The government has been urged by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Oyo State to address the ongoing “japa” problem, which is the phrase used to describe the exodus of Nigerian healthcare professionals. Providing stronger incentives to health workers, such as auto loans and timely payment of the medical residency training fund, could help slow the trend, stressed Dr. Happy Adedapo, the state president of the NMA. Additionally, he called on Governor Seyi Makinde to extend the wage award to state-employed physicians and implement the modified Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, which is comparable to the federal government’s policies.
Dr. Adedapo emphasised the value of cooperation between stakeholders and healthcare professionals in order to improve healthcare delivery in Oyo State and throughout Nigeria by 2025. The large number of Nigerian health personnel who emigrate in search of better chances elsewhere is known as the “Japa” syndrome. A significant reduction in the country’s healthcare staff has resulted from this tendency. For example, an estimated 36,467 Nigerian physicians immigrated to the UK between 2008 and 2021; the number increased from 1,798 in 2008 to 4,880 in 2021.
Several actions have been taken by the gov’t in response to this problem.
Similar to this, over 60,729 Nigerian nurses emigrated to the UK between 2002 and 2021, rising from 1,393 in 2002 to 5,543 in 2021. The delivery of healthcare in Nigeria, notably Oyo State, has been significantly damaged by this diaspora. With only 55,000 licensed physicians currently serving a population of over 200 million, the nation’s doctor-to-population ratio is 0.363 per 1,000, significantly lower than the 4.45 per 1,000 recommended by the World Health Organization. Longer wait times for patients, overworked remaining personnel, and lower-quality service are the results of this scarcity.
Healthcare disparities are further exacerbated by the unequal distribution of doctors, with higher ratios found in urban locations such as Lagos and Abuja than in rural areas. Several actions have been taken by the Nigerian government in response to this problem. Doctors’ monthly hazard allowance was raised from ₦5,000 to ₦32,000 to ₦40,000 in December 2021, while other health workers’ compensation was raised to ₦15,000 to ₦34,000. But these payouts hadn’t started as of September 2022. Also in August 2024, the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration was approved by President Bola Tinubu.
Inadequate medical care consequently results in higher rates of illness.
More so, this seeks to create bilateral agreements with nations that hire Nigerian health experts and to improve incentives for health workers, especially in rural regions. Health professionals have given first-hand stories that illustrate the difficulties they encounter. Poor working conditions and a lack of support were cited by one Nigerian doctor as the main reasons for considering departure, indicating growing disenchantment with the healthcare system. The people living in the country is significantly impacted by the “Japa” syndrome. The already severe lack of healthcare professionals is made worse by this circumstance, which lowers the standard and accessibility of medical care.
Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio, for example, has drastically decreased to about 4 doctors per 10,000 patients, well below the WHO’s suggested threshold of 1 per 600. Long patient wait times, overworked medical staff, and subpar healthcare delivery are the outcomes of this discrepancy. Inadequate medical care consequently results in higher rates of illness and mortality among the general population. Furthermore, families are forced to fly outside the country for medical treatments or seek costly private healthcare services, which puts pressure on household incomes and the national economy. All stakeholders must be involved in a multidimensional strategy to address the “japa” syndrome.
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Competitive pay should be implemented, allowances should be paid on time, working conditions should be improved, and healthcare Infrastructure should be invested in. Make bilateral agreements and uphold them to handle foreign hiring in an ethical manner. Health professionals should take part in ongoing professional development, use professional organisations to push for systemic changes, and think about how emigration may affect healthcare in general. The government should be held responsible for healthcare policies, Civil Society should support efforts to improve local healthcare services, and it should increase awareness of the effects of health worker migration. By working together to address these issues, Nigeria can strengthen its healthcare system and lessen the negative consequences of health professional emigration.