Minister: One Doctor Caters To 3,500 Patients

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has disclosed that Nigeria is grappling with a critical shortage of doctors, revealing that one doctor currently caters to about 3,500 patients.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Salako noted that the global deficit of healthcare professionals has intensified cross-border migration, with many Nigerian doctors moving abroad as countries compete for limited medical talent.

The briefing took place amid the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, which began on Saturday over issues related to welfare, poor working conditions, and government policies. The association cited staff shortages, unpaid entitlements, and weak retention strategies as factors worsening the country’s already stretched doctor-to-patient ratio.

“There’s a shortage of health workers globally, and Nigeria is no exception. Currently, one doctor attends to about 3,500 patients. Even when we attempt to employ, there often aren’t enough available candidates to meet the WHO-recommended standard. This global shortage fuels migration since, like any scarce resource, demand drives movement,” he explained.

Salako acknowledged that Nigeria’s economic realities have compounded the problem but assured that the government is implementing measures to expand local training capacity for healthcare professionals.

“It’s a global challenge, but we’re addressing it. The government is investing in medical education to produce more health workers, though results will take time,” he said.

He added that the government is exploring a system where medical professionals who migrate can still contribute to national revenue through structured overseas engagement policies.

Responding to questions on the employment of temporary (locum) doctors, Salako clarified that the Federal Government has authorized hospital chief executives to recruit locum staff to fill urgent gaps pending permanent employment approvals.

“Because of the high migration rate, hospitals are allowed to hire locum doctors temporarily. Permanent recruitment is a more complex process that involves several agencies and takes time,” he stated.

He revealed that the government now adopts a two-tier strategy — annual recruitment through official waivers for permanent staff and interim hiring of locum workers between recruitment cycles.

Salako added that a standardized protocol is being developed to guide medical directors on locum recruitment, ensuring fairness and priority consideration for regular employment when opportunities arise.