Gladness Gideon
Lagos State is facing a critical shortage of medical professionals, with only 8,200 doctors available to cater to the healthcare needs of over 20 million residents—far below the 30,000 required. This alarming gap has further exposed the deepening crisis in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, driven largely by the mass exodus of doctors seeking better opportunities abroad.
The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Babajide Saheed, and the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, recently raised the alarm over the dire situation, warning that the state’s health system is under severe strain.
Speaking at the official handover of key medical infrastructure for conversion into modern academic facilities, Prof. Abayomi lamented the severe deficit of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and other allied health professionals in the state. He attributed the crisis to the relentless “Japa syndrome”—the widespread migration of Nigerian healthcare workers to foreign countries in search of better pay and working conditions.
To address the shortfall, the Lagos State government has launched an ambitious plan to expand medical education, aiming to increase annual student admissions in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, and allied health sciences from 200 to 2,500 over the next five years.
“The government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved a phased expansion of infrastructure to accommodate more students,” Abayomi stated. “This is a key part of our strategy to mitigate the human resource crisis in our health sector.”
Speaking with reporters , Dr. Saheed expressed deep concern over the worsening situation, confirming that Lagos has only 8,200 registered doctors across public and private facilities. He described the figure as fluid, constantly fluctuating due to the increasing rate of medical migration.
“Nobody can tell you the exact number of doctors in Lagos at any given time because many are leaving while others are joining,” Saheed noted. “This number includes those working in federal, state, and private hospitals.”
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Beyond the manpower crisis, the NMA chairman also criticized certain government decisions, particularly the proposed conversion of specialized health facilities, such as a renal and cardiac center, into administrative offices.
“If we truly want to tackle medical tourism and provide quality healthcare for Lagosians, we should be upgrading these facilities, not repurposing them for other uses,” he said.
The deepening crisis in Lagos mirrors the broader challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector, where inadequate remuneration, poor working conditions, and lack of career progression continue to push skilled professionals out of the country.
Stakeholders warn that unless urgent and strategic measures are taken to retain healthcare workers and improve working conditions, the situation could worsen, leaving millions of Lagosians without access to essential medical services.
As the government rolls out its plan to train more healthcare professionals, experts argue that retention policies, competitive salaries, and improved working environments must complement the initiative to ensure long-term sustainability.
For now, Lagos remains in a precarious situation, navigating a healthcare crisis that threatens both public health and the future of medical services in Nigeria’s commercial hub.