From Lagos to London: Nigeria Tops Charts in Exporting Doctors
Nigeria has become one of the world’s largest exporters of Medical Doctors as a result of the Country’s worsening brain drain crisis, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Chapter.
The Association raised the alarm on Sunday during activities to mark the 2025 Physicians’ Week, warning that the exodus of Doctors to Europe, North America, and the Middle East has reached a critical level, with severe implications for Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, Chairman of the Lagos NMA, said thousands of Doctors have left the Country in recent years due to poor working conditions, insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and unattractive remuneration.
He noted that while Nigeria trains large numbers of medical personnel annually, the inability of the Government to provide an enabling environment has turned the country into a “net exporter of Doctors.”
“It is tragic that Nigeria now ranks among the biggest suppliers of Doctors to developed Nations.
Countries like the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia are heavily reliant on our medical graduates, while our hospitals are left grossly understaffed,” Olowojebutu said.
He explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one Doctor to every 600 patients, but Nigeria currently operates at a ratio of one Doctor to more than 5,000 patients, largely due to the mass exodus.
The NMA warned that unless urgent steps are taken to improve Doctors’ welfare and upgrade health infrastructure, the trend could collapse Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.
Dr. Olowojebutu appealed to both Federal and State Governments to prioritize health sector reforms, including better remuneration, improved hospital facilities, provision of modern equipment, and security of health workers.
The Lagos NMA further stressed that the migration of Doctors is not only a loss of manpower but also a financial drain, as Nigeria spends billions training medical professionals who eventually leave to serve other Countries.
Stakeholders in the sector have repeatedly called for policies that will stem the tide of migration, while also urging the government to incentivize private investment in healthcare.
As the Physicians’ Week continues, the NMA said it will engage policymakers, civil society groups, and International partners to push for reforms that can retain Nigerian Doctors and guarantee accessible healthcare for citizens.
