The Federal Government of Nigeria is taking measures to increase the number of medical and dental doctors in the country from 5,000 to 10,000 starting from the next academic year. This initiative aims to address the shortage of healthcare professionals by expanding admissions to medical and dental institutions.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, made this announcement during the induction ceremony of foreign-trained medical and dental graduates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in Abuja.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that the government intends to discourage the migration of licensed doctors and healthcare professionals to more developed countries by creating a more attractive healthcare environment within Nigeria.
He pointed out that the current annual production of just over 3,000 doctors in Nigeria is grossly insufficient to meet the nation’s healthcare needs. Doubling the rate of health worker production is seen as essential to bridge this gap.
Furthermore, the government plans to extend these opportunities to other healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, community health extension workers, radiographers, and more. However, this expansion will occur in phases to ensure that the quality of education and training is maintained.
Dr. Alausa also highlighted the global shortage of health manpower, estimated at 18 million people, making it crucial for Nigeria to increase its healthcare workforce.
In addition to expanding enrolment in medical schools, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare intends to advocate for increased funding for the health sector and seek international grants and funding to enhance the value chain in the healthcare industry.
