Breakdown: Medical Practitioners By State In Nigeria

Breakdown: Medical Practitioners By State In Nigeria....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Lagos State has the highest number of medical doctors in Nigeria, according to data from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The report shows that Lagos has 7,385 medical doctors, followed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with 4,453 doctors………..CONTINUE READING

Rivers State ranks third with 2,194 medical personnel.

Below is the full list of medical doctors by state in Nigeria:

1. Lagos: 7,385
2. FCT: 4,453
3. Rivers: 2,194
4. Enugu: 2,070
5. Oyo: 1,996
6. Edo: 1,777
7. Kaduna: 1,524
8. Anambra: 1,518
9. Ogun: 1,511
10. Kano: 1,477
11. Delta: 1,456
12. Osun: 1,294
13. Plateau: 1,200
14. Imo: 1,110
15. Kwara: 1,016
16. Ebonyi: 899
17. Akwa Ibom: 888
18. Abia: 829
19. Cross River: 826
20. Ondo: 743
21. Borno: 736
22. Bayelsa: 727
23. Ekiti: 695
24. Benue: 621
25. Sokoto: 602
26. Katsina: 562
27. Nassarawa: 552
28. Niger: 494
29. Gombe: 485
30. Bauchi: 443
31. Kogi: 418
32. Adamawa: 280
33. Yobe: 275
34. Kebbi: 273
35. Zamfara: 267
36. Jigawa: 255
37. Taraba: 201

Brain Drain: Nigeria Loses 16,000 Doctors in Five Years

In March 2024, the Federal Government announced that there are 55,000 licensed doctors in Nigeria, catering to the increasing patient population as many health experts migrate abroad.

Over the past five years, Nigeria has lost between 15,000 and 16,000 doctors due to the ‘Japa’ phenomenon, with around 17,000 having relocated.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics, Prof Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, expressed concern over the brain drain, noting that it has deprived the health sector of many skilled professionals.

Naija News reports that the ‘Japa’ issue has led to an exodus of young physicians, health workers, and other professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.

Despite having 300,000 health workers in Nigeria, only 55,000 are doctors.

Prof Pate stated, “There are about 300,000 health professionals working in Nigeria today, including doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists. We found that there are 85,000 to 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors, but not all of them are in the country. Many are in the US and UK. In Nigeria, we have 55,000 licensed doctors.

“The overall issue is the insufficient number of health professionals and their uneven distribution. Most highly skilled doctors are concentrated in Lagos, Abuja, and a few urban centers. For example, the doctor-to-population ratio in Abuja is 14.7 per 10,000, while in Lagos, it is 4.6, even though the national average is 2.2 per 10,000.

“There are significant distribution challenges, and even those who have been trained struggle to enter the market. It’s important to consider not only doctors but also other crucial healthcare professionals. We’ve been losing many trained doctors

For more information join our WhatsApp group by clicking the link here: WhatsApp Group Invite