Only 55,000 doctors serve over 220 million people, worsening mental health care gaps and straining an already fragile system.

Nigeria’s healthcare system is under mounting pressure as medical experts warn of a deepening manpower crisis, with just about 55,000 practising doctors available for a population exceeding 220 million.

The alarm was raised at the Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital (FNPH), Yaba, Lagos. The conference, themed “Too Few Doctors, Too Many Patients: The Consequences of Manpower Shortage on the Mental Well-being of Nigerians,” spotlighted the growing toll of the workforce deficit on patient care—especially in mental health services.

Doctors, including psychiatric specialists, said the shortage is severely limiting access to care, leaving millions of Nigerians without adequate mental health support.

They revealed that at least 16,000 Nigerian doctors have emigrated over the past five years, worsening an already critical gap in the system. The continued exodus—popularly known as the “Japa” wave—has thinned the ranks of healthcare professionals, driving up treatment costs, increasing patient load, and stretching the remaining workforce to breaking point.

President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Omoti Ernest, confirmed the figures, citing data from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). While over 130,000 doctors are registered, only around 55,000 are actively practising in the country.

This leaves Nigeria with an alarming doctor-to-patient ratio of roughly 1:3,600 to 1:4,000—far below the World Health Organisation’s recommended 1:600.

Prof. Ernest noted that many Nigerian-trained doctors have either relocated abroad or exited clinical practice entirely, deepening shortages across hospitals nationwide.

“The sustained migration of healthcare professionals has had serious consequences,” he said. “It has led to severe staff shortages, increased workload for those who remain—many of whom are experiencing burnout—longer waiting times for patients, and a decline in the quality of care, particularly in public hospitals.”

He warned that rural and underserved communities are bearing the brunt of the crisis due to already limited access to healthcare services.

Experts attribute the mass departure of doctors to poor pay, difficult working conditions, insecurity, limited career advancement, and chronic underfunding of the health sector.

Many professionals, they noted, are drawn to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, where they can access better salaries, improved facilities, and more stable working environments.

With the exodus showing no signs of slowing, stakeholders say urgent reforms are needed to stabilise the workforce and prevent further deterioration of Nigeria’s healthcare system.