Skilled Health Workers Emigration (Japa Syndrome) Leaves Vacancies in Healthcare SectorSkilled Health Workers Emigration (Japa Syndrome) Leaves Vacancies in Healthcare Sector The ‘Japa’ syndrome, the emigration of skilled health workers, has created a significant shortage of medical professionals, leaving hospitals and healthcare institutions struggling to meet the needs of the population. This situation is further exacerbated by the already limited resources faced by these institutions. High Demand and Shortage of Doctors In Lagos State alone, there is a reported shortage of 30,000 doctors. Medical institutions are offering higher salaries and benefits to attract and retain staff, but many newly hired professionals leave the country or find employment elsewhere. Insufficient Production of Medical Personnel Nigeria’s medical schools produce thousands of healthcare professionals annually, but the output is insufficient to meet the demand. Many recent graduates seek opportunities abroad, contributing to the brain drain. Increased Job Vacancies The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports a 35% increase in job vacancies in the healthcare sector over the past year. Impact on Healthcare System The shortage of skilled health workers has severely impacted the healthcare system, reducing its capacity to provide adequate care. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) estimates that 9,000 doctors and 7,500 nurses have emigrated in recent years. Efforts to Address the Crisis The Federal Ministry of Health has instructed federal university hospitals to intensify recruitment efforts. The NMA suggests doubling the intake of medical students into training institutions. Challenges for Returnees While some healthcare professionals return to Nigeria, they face skepticism and concerns about working conditions, infrastructure, and job security. Comprehensive Strategies Needed Experts emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to address the ‘Japa’ syndrome, including improving working conditions, increasing remuneration, and addressing underlying issues causing the exodus. Partnerships with foreign countries for exchange programs could also help bridge the gap and enhance healthcare quality.
The emigration of skilled health workers, the ‘Japa’ syndrome, has created many vacancies that need to be filled if the sector is to meet the health care needs of the population. BusinessDay Sunday can report authoritatively on this.
Medical institutions already struggling with limited resources are now faced with the additional challenge of filling vacancies created by professionals leaving, leaving a surplus of jobs.
Recent trends show an increase in the number of vacancies for medical positions, with hospitals offering higher salaries and better benefits to retain and attract staff.
For example, Lagos State recently reported that there is a shortage of about 30,000 doctors to meet the demand for health care.
Also read: Nigerians among top 5 UK healthcare workers – NHS
“The shortage of doctors in the state has continued to overstretch the available officers to bridge the gap between the available doctor-patient ratio,” said Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health.
According to Abayomi, the brain drain is contributing to the shortage of staff, adding that the state is in dire need of doctors to meet the growing Medicare needs of the smart city.
“Lagos’s annual population growth of six to eight percent poses enormous challenges and the health sector is no exception,” the Commissioner said.
Despite the hospital’s efforts to recruit medical staff, many of those hired never showed up, having either found work elsewhere or left the country.
The surplus of jobs is a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. One might wonder whether Nigeria is producing enough medical personnel to fill the vacancies created by this mass exodus.
The country has numerous medical schools that produce thousands of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals every year. However, the output is not sufficient to meet the growing demand, especially with the ongoing brain drain.
The situation is worsened by the fact that many recent graduates want to leave the country for better opportunities abroad.
A recent survey by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the number of job vacancies in the healthcare sector has increased by 35 percent in the past year.
The Federal Ministry of Health has recognized the crisis and has instructed federal university hospitals to intensify their recruitment processes for medical personnel.
Benjamin Olowojebutu, First Vice President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said the rise in the ‘Japa’ phenomenon has eroded the capacity of the health system to function effectively.
“The continued emigration has seriously affected our ability to provide adequate health care. In Lagos alone, there is a shortage of 30,000 doctors. If this can happen in Lagos, imagine the situation in other states in the country.
“The ‘Japa’ syndrome has created a serious deficit in our health care system, affecting all levels of the system,” he said.
Olowojebutu further stressed that there is an urgent need to address the problem. He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health is considering doubling the intake of medical students into training institutions.
“Hopefully, increasing the number of students admitted to medical schools will help the country produce enough medical personnel to fill the vacant places,” he added.
According to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), about 9,000 doctors have left the country in the past two years. Also, a 2023 report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) revealed that about 7,500 nurses have emigrated in the past year, seeking better opportunities abroad.
Retaining health workers remains a major challenge. Adaobi Dozie, a consultant physician who recently returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, expressed the mixed feelings among returnees.
“While it is heartening to see the government taking steps to improve our healthcare system, there is still a lot of skepticism.
Also read: Retaining skilled healthcare professionals in Nigeria
“Many of us want to come back and contribute, but there must be a sustained effort to improve working conditions, infrastructure and employment security,” she said.
The increase in the number of vacancies for medical professionals poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s ability to deliver quality health care.
Emeka Ifeanyi, Chief Medical Officer of a leading private hospital in Lagos, explains: “We recognise the challenges facing our healthcare system and we are determined to do our part. By providing better pay, improved working conditions and continuous professional development opportunities, we aim to retain our talent and provide quality healthcare to Nigerians.”
Experts say the Nigerian government and healthcare stakeholders must adopt comprehensive strategies to improve working conditions and remuneration of healthcare professionals if Nigeria is to effectively address the ‘japa’ syndrome.
In addition, competitive salaries, better work environments and career opportunities can keep more medical personnel in the country.
Furthermore, there must be a concerted effort to address the underlying problems causing the exodus.
In addition, the government could explore partnerships with foreign countries to create exchange programs that would allow Nigerian medical professionals to gain international experience and return to Nigeria with improved skills and knowledge. This could help bridge the gap and improve the overall quality of healthcare in the country.
