The situation worsened dramatically with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health sector in Nigeria is characterized by inadequate salaries, poor working conditions, and limited opportunities for professional growth, prompting many qualified health professionals to seek employment abroad.
Ongoing strikes by health workers advocating for improved pay and better welfare have consistently strained public health services at both federal and state levels, while numerous health facilities across the nation suffer from deteriorating infrastructure.
Addressing the issue of brain drain in Nigeria's health sector is a formidable challenge that necessitates comprehensive strategies, effective policies, substantial investment, and a supportive environment.
According to official data from the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria has lost at least 16,000 doctors to brain drain over the past five years.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) reports that there are only 55,000 licensed doctors available to serve a population exceeding 200 million.
This results in a doctor-to-patient ratio of approximately one doctor for every 4,000 patients, significantly lower than the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 1:600.
In addition to the departure of doctors, around 75,000 nurses have also left the country since 2017, as reported by the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, leading to a nurse-to-patient ratio of one nurse for every 1,160 patients in Nigeria.
In addition, the association reported that approximately 15,000 nurses departed Nigeria in 2022 to pursue employment opportunities overseas.
The rising trend of skilled professionals seeking work abroad has positioned Nigeria among the 55 nations experiencing a critical shortage of healthcare workers, as identified in the WHO Health Workforce Support and Safeguard List 2023.
According to the WHO, this trend undermines the provision of quality healthcare services and jeopardizes the country's capacity to meet health-related Sustainable Development Goals.
While the Nigerian government faces challenges in curbing this outflow of professionals—given that doing so could infringe upon citizens' rights as outlined in the national constitution—the persistent brain drain is increasingly concerning for authorities.
In response, President Bola Tinubu has endorsed the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to tackle the ongoing departure of Nigerian health workers.
Emphasizing the importance of this policy, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, characterized it as a holistic strategy aimed at managing and reversing the migration of healthcare professionals.
Mr. Pate stated that the policy will improve the management of Nigeria's health workforce, enhance working conditions, and provide better compensation and opportunities for professional development.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria has seen a return of some esteemed specialists in recent years, along with the emergence of more specialized private healthcare facilities, including Marcelle Ruth, Duchess International Hospital, Evercare Hospital, Bridge Clinic, First Cardiology Centre, and Tristate Healthcare, among others.