NIGERIA: Female Doctors Join Japa Wave As Medical Brain Drain Worsens In Nigeria

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria

The exodus of Nigerian medical professionals seeking better opportunities abroad has continued to escalate, with female doctors now increasingly joining the trend.

The President of the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Lagos chapter, Dr. Funmi Ige has confirmed that a significant number of female doctors are migrating alongside their families, adapting to the global demand for healthcare professionals.

Dr. Ige noted that while the rate of emigration among male doctors remains higher due to their larger numbers in the profession, female doctors have found ways to navigate family constraints that previously hindered their relocation.

“There are a few women who, because of marriage and family, do not want to leave. However, from my observation, most now arrange their migration in such a way that the entire family relocates together. Some go ahead first, and then their husbands and children follow. So, while family issues used to be a barrier, people are now finding ways around it,” she explained.

The alarming rate of brain drain has placed immense pressure on the healthcare workforce left behind in Nigeria.

According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, Nigeria has lost between 15,000 and 16,000 doctors in the last five years.

With only about 55,000 doctors currently practicing in the country, experts fear that the trend will worsen an already overstretched healthcare system.

Dr. Ige pointed out that aside from the emigration trend, younger doctors no longer find the profession attractive due to poor working conditions and inadequate remuneration.

“Younger doctors are now more focused on living well and earning more. They do not see the profession as lucrative anymore, and that is affecting the number of professionals staying back to work in Nigeria,” she said.

The Lagos MWAN president further highlighted the impact of interprofessional marriages on female doctors’ migration.

Many female doctors are married to professionals in other fields who also seek to relocate for better opportunities. This, she noted, further depletes Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare workforce.

“It’s not just doctors emigrating; other professionals married to female doctors are also relocating. When they move, their families follow, which reduces the number of doctors available in the country,” she added.

The growing migration crisis has led to an overwhelming doctor-to-patient ratio, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended standard.

Nigeria’s current ratio stands at one doctor to 10,000 patients, significantly lower than the WHO’s recommended one to 6,000 patients.

This, according to Dr. Ige, has resulted in overworked medical professionals and declining healthcare services.

Calling on the government to act swiftly, Dr. Ige urged authorities to improve working conditions and provide incentives to encourage doctors to remain in the country.

“The government needs to make the profession more attractive for both male and female doctors. Expanding medical training programs, offering better incentives, and creating a conducive working environment will encourage professionals to stay and serve their country,” she stressed.