97% of Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) in 16 Nigerian states do not meet the national staffing requirements necessary to provide basic medical services, according to a new report. This deficiency leaves millions of citizens, particularly in rural and underserved communities, without reliable access to essential healthcare.
The findings, contained in the PHC Operational Capability Report, were produced by Orodata Science and Civic Tech. The assessment covered facilities across 277 local government areas (LGAs) spanning Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The report indicates a severe shortage of essential medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, at the primary level of care. This staffing gap suggests that most community-level health centres are unable to fulfil their mandate of providing preventative and basic curative services, which form the bedrock of the national health system.
Impact of medical brain drain on primary care
This staffing crisis arrives as Nigeria continues to grapple with a significant exodus of healthcare professionals, commonly referred to as the ‘Japa’ syndrome. As doctors and nurses migrate to Europe, North America, and other regions in search of better opportunities, the remaining domestic workforce is stretched thin, with the public sector bearing the brunt of the shortage.
The deficit of personnel at the PHC level has direct consequences for maternal and child health. Without adequate midwives and community health workers on-site, many women in rural communities lack access to safe delivery services, a factor that contributes to preventable maternal and infant mortality rates.
Furthermore, the inability of PHCs to manage basic health issues places an avoidable burden on secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions. When primary centres fail to treat common ailments effectively, patients are forced to seek care at teaching hospitals and specialist clinics, leading to overcrowding and increased costs for the wider healthcare system.
The assessment by Orodata Science and Civic Tech involved a review of facility-level data to determine whether the number of personnel on-site matched the statutory requirements set by health authorities. The study aimed to provide a clear picture of the operational capacity of the frontline of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery.
Addressing this crisis will require the federal and state governments to prioritise the recruitment and retention of healthcare workers in rural areas. Experts suggest that improving working conditions and providing specific incentives for rural postings may be necessary to stem the tide of medical migration and stabilise the primary healthcare workforce.
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