Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, has acknowledged the ongoing departure of doctors and healthcare workers to the UK but reassured that new professionals are being trained to fill the gaps.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Professor Pate, who is also a public health expert, emphasized that while some medical personnel are leaving, efforts are in place to replace them through continuous training programs.
“We are committed to training new healthcare professionals, ensuring that even if some leave, others will remain to carry on the work,” he stated.
He further explained that Nigerian health workers are highly sought after internationally due to the quality of their training and expertise.
Professor Pate also pointed out a recent decline in the number of healthcare professionals. Reports indicate that over the past 18 months, the country has faced a significant reduction in its medical workforce.
The Nigerian Medical Association has repeatedly expressed concerns about inadequate working conditions and insufficient support, which have contributed to the migration of doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel, particularly to the UK.
Regarding the shortage of staff in Primary Health Centres, Professor Pate confirmed the issue and called on state and local governments to collaborate with the federal government to address the problem.
To tackle this challenge, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has launched an initiative to train 120,000 new healthcare workers to serve in smaller hospitals and medical facilities.
“When people visit a hospital and find no doctor or nurse available, they don’t hold local authorities accountable—they blame the entire system,” he said.
He added that the federal government has already trained 8,800 health workers and urged state and local governments to actively participate in efforts to improve healthcare services across the country.
Professor Pate also highlighted Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, attributing it to a lack of emergency medical care and financial barriers preventing many pregnant women from receiving treatment.
To address this issue, the government has introduced free emergency healthcare services for pregnant women. According to UNICEF, Nigeria accounts for 10% of global maternal deaths, with 576 maternal fatalities per 100,000 live births.
“No woman should die due to childbirth,” Professor Pate emphasized, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving maternal health.
The free emergency healthcare initiative for pregnant women was first announced in November 2024 as part of broader efforts to reduce maternal mortality and enhance healthcare services nationwide.
