Nigeria’s Doctor Crisis Deepens: NMA Reveals Shocking Number of Medical Professionals Still Practising

Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing a growing crisis as the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has disclosed that only about 55,000 doctors are currently practising in the country despite a population exceeding 220 million.
The revelation has sparked renewed concerns over the state of healthcare delivery nationwide, with hospitals grappling with severe shortages of medical personnel.
The disclosure was made during the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) held at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, where experts highlighted the mounting pressure on healthcare workers and its impact on patient care.
Medical professionals at the conference warned that Nigeria’s healthcare sector is under intense strain due to the dwindling number of doctors available to serve millions of citizens. They attributed the worsening situation largely to the continuous migration of healthcare workers abroad in search of better opportunities.
According to the experts, no fewer than 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country within the last five years, leaving many public hospitals overstretched and reducing access to quality healthcare services.
The exodus, they noted, has particularly affected psychiatric and mental healthcare services, widening treatment gaps and making it increasingly difficult for vulnerable patients to receive timely medical attention.
Speaking at the event, NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu Ernest Omoti, confirmed the alarming trend, noting that although more than 130,000 doctors have been registered by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), only about 55,000 remain actively engaged in medical practice within the country.
He explained that the figure falls far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended doctor-to-patient ratio, underscoring the severity of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce shortage.
Prof. Ernest further lamented that the departure of thousands of doctors and other healthcare professionals has left hospitals operating under immense pressure, resulting in increased workloads, burnout among medical personnel, longer waiting times for patients, and declining quality of care.
He added that rural and underserved communities have been hardest hit, as they already struggle with limited access to healthcare facilities and specialists.
According to the NMA president, factors driving the migration include poor remuneration, inadequate working conditions, insecurity, limited opportunities for career advancement, and insufficient investment in healthcare infrastructure.
He noted that many Nigerian-trained doctors are being drawn to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, where they enjoy better pay, improved facilities and more stable working environments.