Over 16,000 Nigerian Doctors Leave Country, Health Minister Raises Alarm

Nigeria’s health sector is under mounting pressure as over 16,000 doctors have left the country in recent years, sparking fresh concerns about the sustainability of medical care nationwide.

Speaking at the 7th Annual Capacity Building Workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa in Abuja, Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate raised the alarm over the mass exodus of healthcare professionals. The event, themed “Integrated Healthcare Regulation and Leadership in Building Resilient Health Systems,” brought together stakeholders from across the continent to address healthcare challenges and reforms.

Prof. Pate described the situation as a significant loss of human capital and public investment, revealing that Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio has plummeted to 3.9 per 10,000. well below global standards. He noted that nurses and midwives are also migrating in large numbers, compounding the strain on the system

According to the minister, training a single doctor in Nigeria costs upwards of $21,000 an investment now serving foreign healthcare systems. He described the trend as a “leakage” of national resources that hits hardest in underserved communities.

In response, the government has launched the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration under the Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to retain talent without restricting mobility. The policy promotes ethical international recruitment, improved working conditions, and reintegration pathways for Nigerian professionals abroad.

“We’re not closing the doors,” Prof. Pate said. “We’re creating a future where our health professionals are valued at home, even as we remain part of the global health conversation.”