According to Shakuri Kadiri, Head of Human Resources for Health at the Federal Ministry of Health, there is currently one doctor for every 2,753 patients in Nigeria. This is in stark contrast to the World Health Organization’s standard of one doctor for every 600 patients.
Kadiri made this disclosure during the launch of the Nigeria Health Workforce Country Profile 2018 and the handover of the Nigeria Health Workforce Registry, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and other partners.
He mentioned a progressive increase in the migration of medical doctors from 2005 to 2018, with 59 percent of registered medical practitioners in good standing, including 35 percent females.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the number of registered medical doctors with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria is 74,543, indicating a ratio of 36.3 medical doctors per 100,000 population.
It was also noted that the last health workforce profile for the country was conducted in 2012.
Clement Peter, the WHO Nigeria Officer in Charge, emphasized the need for the federal government’s support to expand the National Health Workforce Registry to cover all states, federal departments, agencies, parastatals, and the private sector.
Peter highlighted that improving health indices in Nigeria requires ensuring that the health workforce is accessible and equitably distributed.
Furthermore, Minister of Health Osagie Ehanire stated their ongoing efforts to gather accurate data on the existing health workforce in the country to facilitate human resource for health planning and deliver efficient, effective, and high-quality health services to citizens.