Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing increasing pressure as the migration of frontline health workers, especially doctors and nurses, continues to rise, leaving hospitals understaffed and patients struggling to access quality medical care nationwide.

Popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome”, the migration of healthcare professionals to countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States and Saudi Arabia has raised concern among experts, government officials and citizens.

Some medical practitioners, in interviews on Monday in Abuja, said poor salaries, inadequate working conditions, insecurity and limited career opportunities remain major reasons many healthcare professionals are leaving the country.

A medical doctor at General Hospital Suleja, Mercy Agu, described the situation as alarming, noting that hospitals were becoming overwhelmed as experienced personnel continued leaving the country for opportunities abroad.

“Many hospitals are overwhelmed because experienced personnel are leaving almost every month.

“Doctors now attend to more patients than they should, and this affects service delivery,” Ms Agu said.

According to her, some healthcare workers spend long hours on duty with little motivation, while the rising cost of living and poor welfare conditions have made survival increasingly difficult for many professionals.

Another physician, Grace Okafor, said the migration trend had placed enormous pressure on the few remaining healthcare workers, leading to exhaustion, stress and increasing cases of burnout across medical departments nationwide.

“We are exhausted. In some departments, there are only a handful of doctors handling duties meant for many people. Burnout is becoming common,” Ms Okafor said while expressing concern over worsening workforce shortages nationwide.

A Nigerian doctor currently practising in the United Kingdom, Munir Abdulazeez, said leaving Nigeria was difficult, but poor working conditions and limited opportunities made the decision unavoidable for many healthcare professionals.

“I loved serving in Nigeria, but the environment was discouraging. Better pay, access to modern equipment, and career advancement opportunities influenced my decision,” Mr Abdulazeez said while reflecting on his relocation abroad.

Similarly, a nurse who recently relocated to Canada, Rauda Bello, said many healthcare workers leave the country in search of dignity, stability and improved welfare conditions lacking within Nigeria’s healthcare system.

“In Nigeria, healthcare workers often work under stressful conditions without adequate support. Abroad, there is respect for the profession and better welfare packages,” Mr Bello said while explaining reasons for relocating to Canada.

Health analysts warned that the continued migration of skilled professionals could worsen Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system, particularly in rural communities where access to qualified medical personnel and essential healthcare services remained severely limited.

Public health experts emphasised the need for policies encouraging healthcare workers to remain in Nigeria while strengthening training institutions, improving welfare packages and creating better working conditions across the country’s healthcare sector. 

(NAN)