Health
1,200 doctors serving nine million residents, Ogun NMA laments shortage
Taiwo Bankole
The Nigerian Medical Association, Ogun State chapter, has expressed concern over the shortage of medical doctors in the state, revealing that only about 1,200 physicians are currently serving an estimated population of nine million people.
The association said the figure translates to approximately one doctor for every 7,500 residents, describing the situation as inadequate to meet the state’s healthcare needs.
It also lamented that despite the shortage, doctors who have remained in the country instead of seeking opportunities abroad are increasingly subjected to harassment, intimidation and attacks by members of the public and in some cases, security agencies.
The Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the NMA, Dr Luqman Ogunjinmi, disclosed this on Thursday during a press conference in Abeokuta to announce activities for the 2026 NMA Week and Annual General Meeting.
The event is themed, “Protecting Healthcare Providers: Addressing Violence Against Doctors and Strengthening a Safe Healthcare System.”
Ogunjinmi said the continued migration of Nigerian doctors had worsened the manpower deficit, adding that those who remained deserved better welfare and support.
“If you have an estimated population of about nine million in Ogun State and we have only 1,200 doctors working in the state, you know this is a far cry. However, the 1,200 doctors remaining have decided to stay back to give back to their country,” he said.
According to him, Ogun State requires between 5,000 and 10,000 doctors to provide adequate healthcare services.
“If we have between 5,000 and 10,000 doctors in Ogun State, it will not be too bad. We need nothing less than 5,000 doctors. But those 1,200 doctors who are still here are trying their best,” Ogunjinmi added.
The NMA chairman also decried the growing cases of violence against healthcare workers, warning that attacks on doctors were contributing to the ongoing brain drain in the health sector.
He alleged that doctors, especially those working in border communities such as Ota, Mowe and Ogijo, are frequently harassed and arrested by security agencies over clinical issues that should be handled by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“When a doctor is delivering services, there is an organised body meant to investigate allegations of professional negligence. It is the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. We do not want security agencies prosecuting clinical matters without following due process,” he said.
He explained that the association had intervened in several cases involving the arrest of doctors after patients died, insisting that such matters should first be investigated by the appropriate professional regulatory body.
“Doctors cannot be working and suddenly security agents storm the hospital to arrest them because a patient died. Diagnosis and treatment are continuous processes. You must investigate properly before concluding that a doctor is culpable,” Ogunjinmi said.
He stressed that while doctors strive to provide quality care, patient outcomes cannot always be guaranteed.
“We try our best to provide quality healthcare, but we are not God. It is God who heals. If anyone has a complaint, there are complaint channels such as SERVICOM within hospitals. Assaulting healthcare workers is not acceptable,” he added.
The NMA chairman disclosed that the association had instituted legal action in some assault cases to discourage attacks on healthcare workers and said it would intensify public awareness campaigns through radio, print and social media.
“Nigeria remains our home. We are here and we will continue to do our best to serve our people. We only ask that government and the public support and protect those who have chosen to stay,” he said.
Ogunjinmi commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for approving and implementing the Professional Allowance Table and Specialist Allowance for doctors, describing the move as a positive step.
“Approving this allowance and implementing it is one of the several steps that we require. There are still gaps, but for what they have done, we must commend them and encourage them to do more,” he said.
He also appealed to the state government to harmonise multiple taxes imposed on private medical practitioners and acknowledged improvements in some primary healthcare centres across the state.
“We went round and saw what the governor has done in some primary healthcare centres and we commend him for that. However, there are still many others that require improvement. It is a work in progress,” he said.
Nigeria has continued to grapple with a shortage of medical personnel, driven largely by the migration of healthcare workers to countries offering better remuneration and working conditions.
The World Health Organisation recommends a much lower doctor-to-patient ratio than what currently exists in many Nigerian states.
Professional bodies have repeatedly warned that the growing brain drain, coupled with poor welfare and insecurity, is placing enormous pressure on the country’s healthcare system and reducing access to quality medical care.
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