Nigeria’s healthcare system is overburdened and underfunded as a result of the country’s acute scarcity of qualified healthcare workers. Overcrowding, antiquated equipment, and a shortage of basic medical supplies are problems facing public hospitals. The “Japa” phenomenon, which is the huge exodus of physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel, has further undermined the industry. With almost 16,000 doctors leaving between 2019 and 2024, low pay, challenging working conditions, and uncertainty are driving medical professionals to look for opportunities overseas.
With an average doctor-to-patient ratio of over 12,000—far higher than the WHO-recommended 1/600—this staffing issue has led to an extreme situation. Likewise, the nurse-to-patient ratio of 1/1,160 is worrisomely low, making it challenging to deliver quality treatment. Many times, patients have to wait for basic treatments for weeks or months at a time. Due to Overcrowding in many public hospitals, critically ill individuals must be turned away since there are not enough beds available. Additionally, emergency rooms are overworked, which results in avoidable delays and deaths.
Specialist hospital privatisation is suggested by some experts.
Hospitals frequently have inadequate Sanitation and hygiene, which raises the risk of diseases. Many hospitals suffer from inadequate administration, a shortage of specialists, and antiquated facilities, according to investigations conducted by the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC). A significant problem is a lack of government money, since healthcare spending continuously falls short of the 15% goal established by the Abuja Declaration. Despite an increase to ₦2.48 trillion, the 2025 budget is still insufficient to close the financial shortfall. Specialist hospital privatisation is suggested by some experts, who contend that Private Sector participation, as seen in India, might increase affordability and efficiency. Others emphasise the necessity of state-supported centres of excellence and universal access to primary healthcare.
A rising number of people are calling for immediate changes to stop further deterioration, including more funding for infrastructure, specialised training, and improved healthcare regulations. A severe lack of qualified medical personnel, poor infrastructure, and geographical differences in access to care are only a few of the major issues facing Nigeria’s healthcare system. The “Japa” phenomenon—the migration of healthcare personnel abroad in search of better opportunities—exacerbates these problems. With a healthcare index score of 63.5 in 2023, South Africa topped the continent, followed by Kenya with 61.5.
Nigerian areas have very different access to healthcare.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s healthcare system has a doctor-to-patient ratio of more than 12,000, which is far lower than the WHO’s suggested ratio of 1:600. Nigeria’s residents have little financial protection, as seen by the country’s 77% out-of-pocket health expenditure rate, which is the highest in West Africa. Nigerian areas have very different access to healthcare. Nearly half of the nation’s population lives in rural areas, where there are just 12% of doctors and 19% of nurses. Due to this discrepancy, rural communities have less access to healthcare.
These differences are brought to light by patient experiences. For example, people frequently travel great miles to the closest medical institution in rural areas, only to find that there are staffing and medical supply shortages. On the other hand, despite having greater facilities, metropolitan areas still deal with issues like congested hospitals and long wait times. To enhance healthcare delivery, the Nigerian government has put in place a number of policies. Despite being designed to offer universal health care, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has had difficulty expanding enrolment and lowering out-of-pocket costs. Furthermore, the Abiye (Safe Motherhood) Project in Ondo State sought to lower maternal mortality by enhancing access to care and implementing community health programs.
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Similar initiatives, however effective in their intended area, have not been widely embraced across the country. Recognising the difficulties in the healthcare industry, the Nigerian government has taken action to help. New federal medical centres, moves to improve healthcare governance, and greater budgetary expenditures for health are examples of recent efforts. The World Bank has also granted the government a $1.57 billion Loan to support the power, health, and Education sectors, with $570 million going towards primary healthcare.