In a recent report, the International College of Surgeons, Nigerian Section (ICS-NS), revealed that Nigeria has experienced a significant loss of medical professionals to the United Kingdom over the past six years. According to the college, a staggering 6,221 doctors have migrated, leaving behind a critical shortage of healthcare practitioners. This exodus has resulted in over 40 million Nigerians struggling to access adequate medical care, with the patient-to-doctor ratio skyrocketing.
The alarming findings were shared during the 56th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the ICS-NS, held in Lagos over the weekend. In a joint statement by President Prof. Akanimo Essiet and Secretary-General Prof. Lucky Onotai, the college expressed deep concern about the growing “JAPA” phenomenon, which has significantly depleted the healthcare workforce in the country.
The ICS-NS highlighted that an overwhelming 87 percent of Nigerian healthcare professionals are dissatisfied with the working conditions and aspire to seek better opportunities abroad. The ratio of doctors to patients in Nigeria was already far below the World Health Organization’s recommended standard of 1 doctor per 600 patients, with the pre-2022 ratio being 1 doctor to 4,000 patients.
Shockingly, official data indicates a widening gap, as the number of registered Nigerian doctors in the UK soared from 4,765 in 2017 to 10,986 in 2023. This indicates that over the past six years alone, Nigeria has lost 6,221 doctors to the UK, exacerbating the healthcare crisis and making it increasingly difficult for over 40 million Nigerians to access medical services.
One significant factor contributing to the brain drain is the disparity in earning potential. Due to the weakening of Nigeria’s currency against the US dollar, healthcare professionals now earn only a fraction, ranging from one-fifth to one-tenth, of what their counterparts abroad make. The ICS-NS emphasized the urgent need for healthcare policies to shift from predominantly out-of-pocket financing to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) financed method. They also suggested that well-regulated private sector-led healthcare enterprises could enhance funding for healthcare services.
The college stressed that the deteriorating security situation in the country is further exacerbating the health status of Nigerians. Urgent and decisive action by the government is required to bring the situation under control.
Consequently, the ICS-NS recommended the implementation of universal health coverage at the national, state, and local government levels. To achieve this, they proposed expanding the insurance fund and providing equitable payments to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and healthcare providers. Moreover, it was suggested that easy and affordable access to capital should be facilitated for investors in the health sector.
Attracting healthcare workers to various regions in Nigeria was identified as another critical step. The ICS-NS called on state and local governments to improve healthcare facilities, infrastructure such as roads and electricity, access to clean drinking water, exceptional educational institutions, and reliable telecommunications. Such improvements would help in the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals in these areas.
Additionally, the ICS-NS urged all levels of government to support surgical missions organized by the college by collaborating and providing necessary funding. These missions aim to enhance surgical care delivery to the Nigerian population.
To achieve these vital objectives, the ICS-NS emphasized the urgent need for a significant increase in budgetary allocations for healthcare. Ultimately, Nigeria should strive to reach the WHO’s recommended percentage of the national budget allocated to healthcare.
The current healthcare crisis in Nigeria demands immediate attention and comprehensive measures from
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