Amid a growing population and a worsening brain drain, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed concern over the increasing demand for medical services. This was revealed by the NMA President, Prof. Bala Muhammad-Audu, during the 2025 Annual Delegates Conference and General Meeting held in Katsina State.
The event, “The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Well-being of Health Care Providers,” highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system. Prof. Muhammad-Audu disclosed that 15,000 doctors have left the country in the last five years in pursuit of better opportunities abroad. This mass exodus has significantly affected the doctor-to-patient ratio, growing from the ideal 1:600 to a staggering 1:8,000.
Despite the hardships, Muhammad-Audu remarked that Nigeria produces some of the world’s best-trained doctors, who are highly sought after by countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia. However, harsh working conditions and poor remuneration remain key factors driving medical professionals out of the country.
To address these issues, the NMA advocates fully implementing the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) across all sectors, aiming to curb the alarming brain drain. The association also called for the immediate payment of seven months’ outstanding arrears owed to physicians in federal tertiary institutions.
Furthermore, the NMA rejected the proposed National Prescription Policy, emphasizing that only doctors are properly trained to prescribe medications. The association is also involved in humanitarian efforts, having recently treated 500 patients, performed eye surgeries on 100 individuals, and provided nutritional supplements to orphanages in Katsina.
This alarming trend underscores the urgent need to address the challenges faced by Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
