ABUJA – Nigeria’s health sector is facing an escalating crisis as a severe shortage of healthcare workers, driven by migration and insecurity, threatens to cripple the country’s already fragile system. Dr. Faithful Miebaka Daniel, a medical doctor and health systems researcher, highlighted the urgent need for intervention during an interview in Abuja.
Nigeria’s health worker-to-patient ratio currently stands at 1.8 per 1,000 patients, a far cry from the World Health Organization’s recommended 4.45. This shortage, compounded by the unequal distribution of health workers who prefer urban areas over rural regions, has left the country struggling to meet the healthcare needs of its population.
The Federal Government has responded by introducing the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, a strategy aimed at strengthening the pipeline for new health professionals and increasing training capacity. The policy also focuses on leveraging international collaboration to attract critical skills from Nigerians in the diaspora.
The new policy aims to address a wide range of issues, including expanding career pathways for Nigerian health workers, protecting the interests of those who migrate, and ensuring ethical recruitment processes. Additionally, special incentives will be offered to health workers who agree to practice in rural areas, where healthcare access remains a significant challenge.
Dr. Daniel praised the efforts of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, in spearheading the policy. However, he expressed concern that Nigeria’s growing security challenges could undermine these efforts. He warned that the ongoing insecurity, particularly the rise in kidnappings, may become a major driver for health workers to leave the country.
“The policy’s success depends on curbing the security threats that health workers face daily, recognizing their sacrifices, and accelerating the implementation of measures to increase the workforce, improve compensation, and better equip healthcare facilities,” Dr. Daniel said.
Recent incidents, such as the abduction of 19 medical students and a doctor in Benue State, as well as the ongoing hostage situation involving Dr. Ganiyat Popoola and Prof. Philip Ephraim, underscore the dangers that healthcare workers in Nigeria face. These security risks have made the health sector an increasingly unattractive profession for many.
Beyond security concerns, Dr. Daniel emphasized the importance of improving health insurance coverage in Nigeria. Currently, only about 4% of the population has health insurance, leaving the vast majority vulnerable to financial hardship in the event of illness or injury.
“The distribution of healthcare in Nigeria is inequitable, with most health workers preferring urban areas over rural regions,” Dr. Daniel said. “This has led to a situation where 80% of existing government primary health centers are not functioning at optimal capacity, making access to healthcare more challenging for rural communities.”
The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration hopes to turn this crisis into an opportunity by improving the pipeline for new health professionals, increasing the capacity and quality of training institutions, and providing financial investments in existing institutions. The policy also proposes access to funds for establishing private facilities and periodic reviews of salaries, wages, and allowances to retain healthcare workers.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the dual challenges of migration and insecurity, the success of this policy will be crucial in determining the future of the country’s healthcare system.
