Nigeria ranked 7th among countries with doctors shortage

Nigeria is ranked 7th among 57 countries classified as facing a critical shortage of health workers, According to the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole the country has a shortage of 144,000 health workers.

Nigeria is ranked second in Africa behind Ethiopia with 152,000. Presently the country boasts of 240,000 nurses and midwives and by 2030 the country will be needing 149,852 doctors and 471,353 nurses and midwives.

The minister said only 99,120 doctors and 333,494 nurses and midwives will be available by 2030, he therefore warned that the shortfall will make the country health system vulnerable if there is no urgent and concrete plan to address the situation.

According to a projection estimates from scientific modelling, Nigeria will need approximately 149,852 doctors and 471,353 nurses by the year 2030. With the available growth rate of Doctors/Nurses, by this same period only 99,120 doctors and 333,494 nurses will be available.

This implies a shortage of about 50,120 doctors and 137,859 nurses. This translates to 33.45% gap in doctors supply and 29.25% gap in nurses available.