… Only 20% Of Nearly 30,000 Primary Healthcare Centres Fully Functional
…Says Hospitals Face Worsening Manpower Shortage Amid Japa Wave
Daud Olatunji
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State chapter, has raised concerns over the worsening brain drain in the country’s health sector, revealing that more than 16,000 Nigerian doctors left the country for greener pastures between 2017 and 2023.
The association warned that unless the Federal Government urgently addresses the factors driving the exodus of medical professionals, Nigeria could face a more severe healthcare crisis marked by acute manpower shortages and declining quality of medical services.
The warning was issued on Tuesday during the 2026 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Oyo NMA held in Ibadan with the theme, “Redefining Healthcare Leadership in Nigeria: Innovation, Accountability and Sustainable Development.”
Delivering the keynote address, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Dr Titilola Ibiyemi, said Nigeria could no longer sustain a “business-as-usual” approach to healthcare administration, stressing that transformational leadership was essential to rebuilding public confidence in the health sector.
She identified brain drain, chronic underfunding, poor infrastructure, weak accountability systems and over-reliance on donor support as major obstacles undermining healthcare delivery in the country.
According to Ibiyemi, although primary healthcare centres account for about 75 per cent of health facilities nationwide, only about 20 per cent of the country’s nearly 30,000 PHCs are fully functional.
She also noted that Nigeria currently spends only about 3.86 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product on healthcare, far below the 15 per cent benchmark adopted under the Abuja Declaration, while about 76 per cent of healthcare expenses are paid directly by citizens through out-of-pocket spending.
She said, “Healthcare leadership must be intentional, innovative and accountable. Leaders must inspire change, strengthen institutions, embrace technology and ensure efficient management of available resources to improve patient outcomes.”
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Oyewusi Gureje, urged medical practitioners to develop leadership competencies capable of driving meaningful reforms in the nation’s healthcare system.
Speaking with journalists after the conference, Oyo State NMA Chairman, Dr Happy Adedapo, said the association would submit a communiqué containing recommendations to relevant government authorities to tackle the challenges confronting the sector.
While acknowledging recent improvements in doctors’ welfare, including payment of professional allowances for federal health workers and increased support for some state-owned health institutions, Adedapo said the measures had not been sufficient to stem the migration of healthcare professionals.
“The Japa syndrome remains one of the biggest challenges facing the health sector. Government must identify the factors pushing doctors out of the country and address them. Nigeria cannot continue training doctors for export while our hospitals face severe manpower shortages,” he said.
He called for improved remuneration, better working conditions, upgraded health infrastructure, enhanced security and expanded opportunities for career development to encourage doctors to remain in the country.
Participants at the conference also advocated reforms to Nigeria’s medical education curriculum by incorporating administrative, leadership and entrepreneurial training to better prepare future doctors for management responsibilities within the healthcare system.
The participants included former Oyo NMA Chairman, Dr Damilola Louis; President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Oyo State chapter, Dr Shakirat Olanlege; and Dr Temitope Ilori.
Health experts have repeatedly warned that the continued migration of skilled medical professionals is worsening the shortage of healthcare workers across Nigeria, increasing pressure on the country’s already overstretched health facilities and limiting access to quality healthcare for millions of Nigerians.
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