Poor Welfare, Brain‑Drain Threatening Nigeria’s Health Sector — Lagos NMA!
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Reported by David Joshua | Sele Media Africa Reporter
The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a stark warning over the deteriorating state of Nigeria’s health sector, attributing much of the crisis to poor welfare for medical personnel, mass emigration (brain‑drain), and weak implementation of policies. [1]
Speaking ahead of the 2025 Scientific Conference, NMA Chair Dr. Babajide Saheed lamented that despite repeated promises by governments, doctors continue to work under harsh conditions, leading many to seek greener pastures abroad. Hospitals, he noted, suffer from chronic underfunding, obsolete infrastructure, severe staff shortages, and lack of essential drugs. [1]
“The welfare of doctors has remained a major concern … our hospitals are underfunded, our members are overworked, and the migration of doctors continues to cripple healthcare delivery,” he said. [2]
Dr. Saheed also decried how some doctors are forced to treat extraordinarily large numbers of patients — in some cases, more than 10,000 — creating untenable workloads and posing risks to quality of care. [1]
He warned that health policies are often made without input from practitioners and are subject to political whims, rather than grounded in evidence or operational realities. [1]
To reverse the trend, the Lagos NMA is calling for:
- Improved pay, allowances, and welfare packages for doctors and health workers
- Better funding for health infrastructure, hospitals, and supply chains
- Engagement of medical professionals in policy design and implementation
- Sustainable healthcare financing and policy continuity beyond election cycles [1]
The NMA’s warnings come amid growing concern about Nigeria’s ability to retain key health personnel, maintain service quality, and meet the medical needs of its growing population.
Citations:
- Vanguard News: www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/poor-welfare-brain-drain-threatening-nigerias-health-sector-lagos-nma/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Vanguard News: www.vanguardngr.com/2025/10/physicians-week-nma-lagos-decries-poor-welfare-brain-drain/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
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