The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised concerns about the shortage of doctors in Jigawa State, where the current doctor-to-patient ratio stands at one doctor for every 21,000 patients.
Dr. Aminu Abdullahi, the Chairman of NMA in Jigawa State, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday to mark the 2023 Physicians Week. He expressed that Jigawa has the highest rate of doctors leaving the state, a phenomenon known as brain drain.
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) standards, there should ideally be one doctor for every 600 patients, which highlights the stark disparity in Jigawa.
Dr. Abdullahi further lamented the adverse impact of brain drain on the state, even though Jigawa had allocated 16% of its annual budget for 2023 to the health sector.
He expressed the NMA’s deep concern over this situation, as it represents a significant challenge to the healthcare system in Jigawa. He explained that the brain drain is occurring both within the country, with doctors leaving for other states in the federation, and outside the country.
Dr. Abdullahi revealed that there are approximately 350 doctors working in both state and federal health facilities in Jigawa. This small number of doctors is responsible for providing healthcare to a population of seven million people in the state.
The current doctor-to-patient ratio in Jigawa, at about 1:21,000, falls far short of the WHO’s recommended standard of 1:600 patients. This situation also extends to the ratio of nurses and other healthcare workers in the state, and it is among the worst ratios in the country, significantly affecting the state’s healthcare indicators.
Dr. Abdullahi emphasized the need for honest and informed discussions about the healthcare delivery system in Jigawa, especially in light of the economic challenges facing the nation. He stated that there is an urgent need to make the healthcare delivery system in the state more efficient and responsive, particularly given the current economic realities in Nigeria.
The chairman noted that the themes for the 2023 Physicians Week, which are “This is our chance to get it right in the health sector” and the sub-themes “The Abuja Declaration 22 years after” and “Ethical issues in human organ donation,” are well-aligned with the current realities in the health sector.