Resident Doctors Halt 48-Hour Calls, Decry Nigeria’s Alarming 1:9,083 Doctor-Patient Ratio

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised alarm over the country’s worsening healthcare crisis, citing an abysmal doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083—far from global best practice.

In a statement issued on Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary, the association announced a new directive: with effect from October 1, 2025, resident doctors nationwide will no longer take continuous calls exceeding 24 hours.

The statement, signed by NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, stressed that the move was necessary to safeguard both doctors and patients.

Nigeria’s healthcare system continues to face a severe brain drain, with over 16,000 doctors reportedly leaving the country in the last seven years, according to Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate. With only about 11,000 resident doctors serving a population of more than 240 million, those who remain are overstretched.

NARD noted that resident doctors work an average of 106.5 hours weekly, while surgical residents endure over 122.7 hours—equivalent to four or five 24-hour call duties per week. The association warned that such extreme schedules lead to burnout, medical errors, and even deaths among doctors, leaving their families and patients devastated.

“This situation is deeply troubling,” NARD said. “It threatens patient safety and exacts a severe toll on doctors’ mental, physical, and psychological well-being. Too often, young doctors pay the ultimate price. How many more lives must we lose before decisive action is taken?”

The association urged the Federal Ministry of Health to implement a one-to-one replacement policy to ease workload pressures, enforce call-hour regulations, and ensure fair remuneration for doctors who have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite better opportunities abroad.

Calling resident doctors “patriots and heroes,” NARD emphasized that their sacrifices should be matched with adequate support and protection.

On Independence Day, the group reminded Nigerians to reflect not only on national progress but also on the dire conditions faced by doctors: “We cannot continue to lose our members to avoidable deaths. This reform is long overdue.”