By Gwurld4026 
16,000 Doctors Depart Nigeria in Five Years – Minister Reports
Nigeria has experienced a significant exodus of medical professionals in recent years. According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, over 16,000 doctors have left the country between 2018 and 2025, costing Nigeria billions of naira. This mass departure has reduced the doctor-to-population ratio to approximately 3.9 per 10,000 people, which is substantially below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum.
The reasons for this migration, often referred to as the “Japa syndrome,” include inadequate funding of the healthcare sector, poor working conditions, and low remuneration. These factors have driven many healthcare professionals to seek better opportunities abroad.
The departure of such a large number of medical professionals has strained Nigeria’s healthcare system, leading to a shortage of skilled practitioners and impacting the quality of healthcare delivery. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive strategies to improve working conditions, increase funding, and create incentives to retain healthcare professionals within the country.