A healthcare entrepreneur and serial investor has reported that Nigeria’s healthcare system is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled professionals.
Speaking to journalists today in Abuja, Dr. Richardson Ajayi noted that doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers are leaving the country in large numbers in search of better opportunities abroad.
“The warning signs have been clear for years, and now we are on the brink of a full-blown crisis,” he stated.
Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) from Nigeria’s leading teaching hospitals are sounding the alarm: our hospitals are becoming empty as skilled health professionals depart in droves, according to Ajayi.
He painted a bleak picture: “We are building empty hospitals. Infrastructure without people is just an illusion of progress.”
The exodus of health workers, primarily driven by poor remuneration and a lack of career advancement opportunities, has escalated into a full-scale crisis. Ajayi highlighted that in Nigeria, consultants earn less than $2,000 per month, a tiny fraction of what their counterparts make in the UK, Canada and the US – often 10 to 20 times more.
“We cannot realistically expect them to stay under these conditions,” he said, noting that the global demand for skilled health workers makes it easier for Nigerian professionals to find better-paying jobs abroad.
The effects of this mass departure are already noticeable. Many teaching hospitals and healthcare facilities are now operating with minimal staff, leading to long wait times for patients and substandard care. Some departments have even had to close entirely due to a lack of qualified personnel.
While the government continues to heavily invest in building new hospitals and upgrading existing facilities, these efforts are ineffective without the professionals needed to operate them.
“A functioning healthcare system is about people. When those people are undervalued, underpaid and overworked, they will leave,” Ajayi stressed.
He pointed out that only 38 per cent of budgeted funds are reported to have been released to hospitals for critical services, complicating efforts to retain and support staff.
“Without timely budget disbursement and full utilisation of allocated resources, hospitals remain ill-equipped to meet the growing health demands of the population,” he added.
To address this crisis, he outlined several urgent measures:
1. Health workers need salaries that reflect their skills and dedication. Without this, retaining staff will remain a significant challenge.
2. Structured career development programs, research opportunities and clear pathways for promotion are essential to making local healthcare positions more attractive.
3. Hospitals must receive their full budget allocations promptly to ensure operational efficiency and the delivery of quality healthcare services.
4. The private sector can play a vital role in bridging gaps by funding training programmes, offering incentives and creating collaborative healthcare models to retain talent.
Ajayi emphasised that the exodus of health professionals poses a threat not only to workforce levels but also to the foundation of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He remarked that a nation’s health is its wealth: “If we do not act now, access to quality medical care will become a luxury for the wealthy, leaving the majority of Nigerians vulnerable.”
The signs are evident: Nigeria is on the verge of a healthcare collapse if decisive action is not taken to curb the flight of health workers.
“The future of the nation’s healthcare system depends not just on buildings and equipment, but on the people who provide care. The question remains – will Nigeria act before it is too late?” he questioned.
