Author: Gist Correspondent

Medical professionals have warned that Nigeria\'s healthcare system is facing a severe workforce crisis, with only about 55,000 doctors currently serving a population of more than 220 million people.

The concern was raised at the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba, Lagos, themed “Too Few Doctors, Too Many Patients: The Consequences of Manpower Shortage on the Mental Well-being of Nigerians.”

The experts said the continued migration of healthcare workers abroad, popularly known as the \"Japa\" phenomenon, has significantly weakened the country\'s health sector, particularly mental healthcare services.

Speaking on the development, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Omoti Ernest, said although more than 130,000 doctors have been registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), only about 55,000 remain in active practice within the country.

According to him, the ratio translates to roughly one doctor for every 3,600 to 4,000 Nigerians, far below the World Health Organisation\'s recommendation of one doctor to about 600 people.

He attributed the shortage largely to the migration of Nigerian-trained doctors seeking better remuneration, improved working conditions and greater career opportunities abroad.

Ernest noted that thousands of doctors and other health professionals have left the country in recent years, resulting in severe manpower shortages, increased workload, staff burnout, longer waiting times for patients and declining quality of healthcare services.

He added that rural and underserved communities have been hardest hit due to their already limited access to medical care.

To reverse the trend, the NMA president urged government at all levels to improve salaries and welfare packages, invest in modern healthcare infrastructure, expand residency and specialist training opportunities, and provide incentives for professionals working in underserved areas.

Also speaking at the conference, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Dr. Yesir Kareem, said Nigeria\'s doctor-to-patient ratio had deteriorated further to about one doctor for more than 10,000 patients, with grave implications for mental healthcare delivery.

He disclosed that over 40 million Nigerians suffer from mental health disorders, while about 85 per cent of them lack access to appropriate care.

Kareem warned that the shortage of psychiatrists and other mental health specialists has widened treatment gaps, increased healthcare costs and left millions of vulnerable citizens without adequate support.

He added that untreated mental illnesses contribute to family instability, substance abuse, unemployment, delayed diagnosis and preventable deaths, while also imposing huge economic costs on the country.

According to him, about 94,000 doctors and nurses have left Nigeria over the years due to poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, limited career advancement opportunities, insecurity and economic uncertainty.

President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Dr. Veronica Nyamali, described the manpower shortage as a national crisis that has forced consultants to take on duties ordinarily performed by junior doctors due to widespread vacancies.

She revealed that Nigeria currently has fewer than 150 psychiatrists, making access to mental healthcare increasingly difficult, particularly in rural communities.

Nyamali said the scarcity of specialists has also contributed to rising treatment costs and reduced availability of newer psychiatric medications, as some pharmaceutical companies have scaled down operations or exited the Nigerian market.

She further linked the growing burden of mental illness to worsening economic hardship, unemployment, insecurity, kidnappings and substance abuse, noting that many Nigerians are experiencing psychological trauma from daily socio-economic challenges.

The APN president also expressed concern over the heavy reliance on out-of-pocket spending for mental healthcare, arguing that inadequate insurance coverage continues to place significant financial pressure on patients and their families.

President of ARD, FNPH Yaba, Dr. Okuwoga Temitope, said the shortage of doctors has become a major obstacle to quality mental healthcare delivery, adding that many resident doctors are battling burnout, stress, anxiety and depression due to overwhelming workloads.

The association called on federal and state governments to improve healthcare workers\' welfare, strengthen specialist training programmes, invest more in mental health services and create better working conditions to curb the exodus of medical professionals.

It also advocated wider integration of mental health services into primary healthcare centres, increased deployment of telepsychiatry and stronger public awareness campaigns to promote early treatment and reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

In a communiqué issued after the conference, the association reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the welfare of resident doctors and improving access to quality mental healthcare nationwide, while urging authorities to address lingering workforce and funding challenges in the sector.