Frontline health workers continuous migration, especially doctors and nurses, isleaving hospitals understaffed and patients struggling to access quality medical care nationwide. This development is exposing Nigeria’s healthcare system to increasing pressure.
Popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome”, the migration of healthcare professionals to countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Saudi Arabia has raised concern among experts, government officials and citizens.
Some medical practitioners, who reacted to the situation on Monday in Abuja, said poor salaries, inadequate working conditions, insecurity and limited career opportunities remain major reasons many healthcare professionals are leaving the country.
Dr. Mercy Agu, a medical doctor at General Hospital, Suleja, described the situation as alarming, noting that hospitals were becoming overwhelmed as experienced personnel continued leaving the country for opportunities abroad.
Said Agu: “Many hospitals are overwhelmed because experienced personnel are leaving almost every month.
“Doctors now attend to more patients than they should, and this affects service delivery”.
She said some healthcare workers spend long hours on duty with little motivation, while the rising cost of living and poor welfare conditions have made survival increasingly difficult for many professionals.
Dr. Grace Okafor, another physician, said the migration trend had placed enormous pressure on the few remaining healthcare workers, leading to exhaustion, stress and increasing cases of burn-out across medical departments nationwide.
Stated Okafor while expressing concern over worsening workforce shortages nationwide: “We are exhausted. In some departments, there are only a handful of doctors handling duties meant for many people. Burn-out is becoming common”.
Dr Munir Abdulazeez, a Nigerian doctor currently practising in the United Kingdom, said leaving Nigeria was difficult, but poor working conditions and limited opportunities made the decision unavoidable for many healthcare professionals.
Said Abdulazeez as he reflected on his relocation abroad: “I loved serving in Nigeria, but the environment was discouraging. Better pay, access to modern equipment, and career advancement opportunities influenced my decision”.
Similarly, Mrs. Rauda Bello, a nurse who recently relocated to Canada, said many healthcare workers left the country in search of dignity, stability and improved welfare conditions lacking within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Said she while explaining reasons for relocating to Canada: “In Nigeria, healthcare workers often work under stressful conditions without adequate support. Abroad, there is respect for the profession and better welfare packages”.
Health analysts warned that the continued migration of skilled professionals could worsen Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, particularly in rural communities where access to qualified medical personnel and essential healthcare services remained severely limited.
Public health experts emphasised the need for policies encouraging healthcare workers to remain in Nigeria, while strengthening training institutions, improving welfare packages and creating better working conditions across the country’s healthcare sector.
