NARD, NMA Raise Alarm Over Mass Exodus of Health Workers, Warn of Strain on Nigeria’s Healthcare System

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), and the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), among others, have expressed deep concern over the rising migration of medical professionals abroad. They warned that the trend, widely referred to as the Japa syndrome, is mounting unbearable pressure on Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system.

Speaking at the opening of NARD’s 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Katsina, NARD President, Dr. Tope Osundara, lamented that the number of resident doctors in Nigeria has dropped from about 15,000 in 2014 to barely 8,000 this year. He attributed the mass departure of health workers to poor wages, harsh working conditions, and severe manpower shortages. According to him, this exodus has left critically ill patients with fewer professionals to cater to their needs.

Dr. Osundara urged the government to adopt policies that improve incentives, salaries, and working conditions in order to boost staff morale, reduce attrition, and enhance training. He stressed that for over a decade, there has been no collective bargaining agreement to review doctors’ pay, emphasizing that timely remuneration and financial incentives remain the strongest motivators for health workers.

While commending NARD members for their resilience in the face of challenges, the president recalled that the association suspended its five-day warning strike in September after just two days, giving the Federal Government a two-week grace period to address outstanding welfare issues. He noted that the association would reconvene on September 26 during its AGM to decide whether or not to resume the industrial action.

Osundara clarified that the suspension of the strike was not a sign of retreat but a gesture of goodwill to both the Nigerian people and the government. He reaffirmed that doctors remain resolute on their demands and expect meaningful action to improve their welfare and strengthen the nation’s healthcare system.