Retaining Doctors in Nigeria: Beyond Production, What’s Next?

Lagos State, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, recently announced plans to set up a medical university, aiming to graduate up to 1,500 doctors annually.

This ambitious project, part of a larger effort to strengthen Nigeria’s medical infrastructure, comes as a response to the alarming rate of medical professionals leaving the country.

However, while this initiative is commendable, it highlights a deeper issue: the need for Nigeria to not only produce but also retain its medical talent.

The Exodus of Medical Talent from Nigeria

Nigeria’s healthcare system is under immense strain. With Sub-Saharan Africa bearing 25% of the global disease burden, the region, including Nigeria, has less than 2% of the world’s healthcare workforce.

The statistics are sobering: about 5,000 Nigerian doctors moved to the UK between 2015 and 2021, and as of November 2021, 8,983 Nigerian-trained doctors were working in the UK.

The US also hosts approximately 3,895 Nigerian-educated doctors.

This migration is fueled by various factors, including inadequate salaries, months of unpaid wages, and poor working conditions.

The Need for Comprehensive Solutions

While the Lagos State Medical University is a positive step towards increasing the number of medical professionals, it doesn’t address the root cause of the brain drain.

The key issue is not just the production of medical staff but their retention.

Medical professionals in Nigeria often face challenging working environments, with insufficient infrastructure and outdated equipment.

The government needs to focus on improving working conditions, ensuring job security, and offering competitive salaries to prevent these valuable professionals from seeking opportunities abroad.

The Impact of Medical Staff Shortage

Nigeria’s current ratio of healthcare workers – 4 doctors and 15 nurses per 10,000 people – starkly contrasts with the WHO’s recommended ratio of 1 doctor per 600 people and about 30 healthcare workers per 10,000 population.

The exodus of medical talent not only cripples the healthcare system’s ability to cope with the existing disease burden but also affects the nation’s overall development and the health status of its citizens.

A Holistic Approach: Beyond Academic Excellence

To effectively curb the medical brain drain, the Nigerian government at all levels must implement strategies that go beyond establishing more universities.

This includes revising the compensation packages for healthcare workers to reflect the current economic situation, improving job satisfaction, and guaranteeing job security, especially for post-fellowship resident doctors.

Investment in healthcare infrastructure, provision of adequate funding and equipment, and creating a positive work environment are essential steps towards retaining medical talent in Nigeria.

Treating the Cause, Not Just the Symptoms

The establishment of a medical university in Lagos State is a laudable initiative, but it’s a treatment of the symptoms rather than the cause.

To ensure the long-term effectiveness of Nigeria’s healthcare system, a comprehensive approach that focuses on retaining talent is crucial.

The government must recognize the urgency of this issue and implement policies that create an attractive and sustainable working environment for medical professionals.

Only then can Nigeria hope to reverse the tide of medical brain drain and ensure a healthier future for its citizens.