Medical doctors have warned that Nigeria’s healthcare system is under severe strain, with only about 55,000 practising physicians left to cater for a population exceeding 220 million, as worsening “Japa” migration continues to drain the sector.
The alarm was raised at the Annual 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.”
According to the doctors, the persistent exit of health professionals is worsening access to psychiatric care, deepening Nigeria’s mental health burden and leaving millions untreated.
They disclosed that about 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in the last five years alone, further weakening an already overstretched system.
Confirming the development, President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Ernest Omoti, said although over 130,000 doctors are registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), only about 55,000 are actively practising in the country.
“With a population of over 220 million, this translates to roughly one doctor to between 3,600 and 4,000 people,” Omoti said.
“This is far below the WHO recommendation of one doctor to about 600 people. The gap is huge and it is affecting service delivery across the country,” he added.
Omoti attributed the brain drain to poor remuneration, harsh working conditions, insecurity, limited career growth, and inadequate infrastructure, noting that many doctors were relocating to countries such as the UK, Canada, and the United States in search of better opportunities.
He warned that the continued exodus is placing enormous pressure on remaining health workers, leading to burnout, long waiting times for patients, and declining quality of care, especially in public hospitals.
At the conference, a Consultant Psychiatrist at FNPH, Yaba, Dr. Yesir Kareem, said Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio had deteriorated to about one doctor per 10,000 patients in some areas.
He noted that the situation is particularly alarming for mental healthcare delivery.
“Only about 55,000 doctors are available for over 220 million Nigerians. More than 40 million people are living with mental health conditions, yet about 85 per cent of them do not have access to care,” Kareem said.
He added that Nigeria’s shortage of psychiatrists is worsening untreated mental illnesses, contributing to family breakdown, substance abuse, unemployment and avoidable deaths, while also costing the economy billions annually.
President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Dr. Veronica Nyamali, said the shortage has forced consultants to take on multiple roles, abandoning research and specialised care to fill manpower gaps.
“There are gaps everywhere. Work meant for four psychiatrists is now being handled by one or two. Many trainees leave immediately after qualifying, worsening the shortage at all levels,” she said.
Nyamali warned that Nigeria now has fewer than 150 psychiatrists, adding that the scarcity has made mental healthcare increasingly expensive and inaccessible, especially in rural communities.
“When specialists are few, services become costly and patients travel long distances to access care. This undermines universal health coverage,” she said.
She also raised concerns over limited access to modern psychiatric drugs, noting that some essential medications are no longer readily available, while fake drugs are increasingly flooding the market.
Nyamali further linked rising mental health cases to insecurity, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and other social pressures, describing them as major drivers of psychological disorders.
She added that mental healthcare remains largely out-of-pocket, with many essential drugs excluded from insurance coverage, increasing financial burden on families.
Speaking at the event, ARD FNPH Yaba President, Dr. Okuwoga Temitope, said manpower shortages are severely affecting access to quality mental healthcare services.
“We are witnessing widening treatment gaps, burnout among doctors, and increasing pressure on an already overstretched system,” he said.
The association urged government at all levels to improve remuneration, invest in infrastructure, expand training opportunities, and strengthen welfare packages to stem the tide of migration.
They also called for integration of mental health into primary healthcare, expanded telepsychiatry services, and stronger public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma.
In a communiqué, the doctors reaffirmed their commitment to improving mental healthcare delivery and urged management of FNPH Yaba to fast-track IPPIS enrolment for newly recruited resident doctors to prevent salary delays.
They also commended the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Olugbenga Owoeye, for restoring electricity supply to parts of the facility, while calling for sustained improvements in infrastructure.
