The Federal Government revealed on Sunday that Nigeria is facing a significant loss of top talent in the health sector due to what is known as the ‘Japa Syndrome’, commonly referred to as brain drain. Approximately 16,000 doctors have left the country in pursuit of better opportunities abroad.
During an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, expressed concern over the exodus of young doctors, health workers, tech entrepreneurs, and various professionals from Nigeria to seek greener pastures overseas.
“In the last five years, around 15,000 to 16,000 doctors have succumbed to the Japa syndrome, while approximately 17,000 have been transferred,” he stated.
Pate emphasized the shortage of health professionals in Nigeria, with only about 300,000 currently working across all fields. He highlighted that out of the 85,000 to 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors, a considerable number are abroad, particularly in the US and UK, leaving about 55,000 licensed doctors within the country.
He also addressed the geographical imbalance in the distribution of doctors, with a concentration in urban centers like Lagos and Abuja. This imbalance results in an inadequate doctor-to-patient ratio, with approximately 7,600 doctors in Lagos and 4,700 in Abuja.
Acknowledging the global nature of the brain drain issue, Pate stressed the importance of expanding training opportunities and improving working conditions to retain skilled professionals within the country. Efforts are underway to enhance training programs and incentivize healthcare workers to remain in Nigeria.
“We are taking steps to address the challenges faced by healthcare workers, including issues like working hours and ensuring they are treated as valuable assets,” Pate affirmed. “By improving the training environment and providing better incentives, we aim to mitigate the impact of brain drain on our healthcare system.”