“We have a shortage of 33,000 doctors,” Abayomi stated during a press briefing.
Lagos State is grappling with a critical shortage of medical professionals, with only 7,000 doctors serving a population exceeding 20 million. The state requires an additional 33,000 doctors to meet the World Health Organization’s recommended doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:200. This deficit has been attributed to the migration of over 16,000 Nigerian doctors seeking better opportunities abroad in recent years.
“We have a shortage of 33,000 doctors,” stated Health Commissioner Prof. Akin Abayomi during a press briefing commemorating Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. “We are planning strategically to address brain drain and increase brain gain. We have improved flow of funds into the health sector.”
To mitigate the crisis, the Lagos State government is implementing several initiatives, including the construction of new secondary hospitals in Ojo, Lagos Island, and Ketu-Ejirin. The state is also investing in climate-resilient healthcare facilities and has established the largest cancer center in West Africa, located in Alausa.