Doctors Flee Nigeria In Mass ‘Japa’ Wave, Leaving Hospitals Overwhelmed

Doctors Flee Nigeria In Mass ‘Japa’ Wave, Leaving Hospitals Overwhelmed

The trend of Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad, commonly known as “Japa,” has now deeply impacted various sectors, especially healthcare. The exodus of skilled healthcare professionals, particularly doctors, has left a severe gap in Nigeria’s already struggling medical infrastructure……..CONTINUE READING 

In states like Lagos, where doctors previously attended to more than 100 patients daily, the numbers have now doubled in many hospitals. Some clinics have even shut down due to a shortage of specialists.

A young pediatrician recently relocating to the United States expressed her internal conflict. “I love my country and my patients, but the overwhelming challenges here make it impossible to give the level of care I want,” she said.

Similarly, healthcare professionals left behind are feeling the pressure. A nurse working in a Lagos public hospital shared her frustrations anonymously: “We’re overworked, underpaid, and it’s affecting our mental health. Patients suffer because we simply don’t have enough staff.”

The National Medical Association (NMA) President, Professor Bala Abdul, notes that the shortage has led to a significant increase in doctors’ workload, contributing to burnout. He believes improving wages and work conditions is essential to stem the brain drain.

In response, the Lagos State government has started re-employing retired healthcare professionals to help alleviate the crisis. Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo, supports this move but suggests prioritizing the fitness of retired staff.

The government has also increased the availability of internship spaces and housing subsidies to attract and retain healthcare workers. However, many doctors still find the allure of better pay and working conditions abroad hard to resist, causing Nigeria’s health indices to continue declining.

The widespread “Japa” phenomenon has turned Lagos into a “transit camp,” with doctors from less favorable regions often moving there before migrating overseas. Abdulsalam, Chairman of the Medical Guild, emphasized that understaffing has increased patient wait times, reduced care quality, and worsened burnout rates.

While some solutions are underway, Nigeria’s healthcare sector remains at risk unless efforts to retain skilled medical professionals are intensified.