By Lexi Elo
Nigerians seeking specialised care in healthcare institutions across the country would be seeking options[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″] to address their healthcare needs following huge dearth of medical specialists in Nigeria’s health sector, investigations reveal.
Following increased brain drain by medical professionals in search of better remuneration and incentives [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]in foreign hospitals, many states lack experts in sub-specialities like [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”8″][pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]paediatrics, oncology, neurology and psychiatry, with a few left in the country preferring to practise in urban areas.
Despite rising cases of cancer, there are only 25 consultant oncologists to about 160 million Nigerians with cancer patients meant to access specialist care for cancer in six states-(Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Edo, Ondo, Sokoto) and Abuja. This is unlike Canada, which has 800 medical oncologists, and a population of 35 million people.
Dr. Biodun Ogungbo, consultant neurosurgeon, revealed that there are 50 neurologists and 40 neurosurgeons, doctors who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the nervous system in Nigeria.
Dr. Ogungbo noted that the doctor to patient ratio places one neurologist to 3 million Nigerians and one neurosurgeon to 4 million Nigerians, with most of the specialists based in Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan and Sokoto.
“This shortage of neurologists means that Nigerians do not have access to neurological services. Even if they do, it will be expensive and unaffordable to most people. This means they won’t get treated,” Dr. Ogungbo explained.
Dr. Osahon Enabulele, Vice President, Commonwealth Medical Association, said that Nigeria is witnessing a dearth of specialist doctors in the health sector due to little importance placed on the training of doctors and other health professionals.
According to Dr. Enabulele, “The ratio of patients to doctors in Nigeria is appalling. It is about one doctor to 8,000 people. In the USA and UK, it is one doctor to 100 people. Most Nigerian medical doctors presently work in the United States, Britain, South Africa, and other neighbouring African countries where medical personnel are treated better.
“Since the inception of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), there were 75, 000 registered medical doctors but presently, only 25, 000 Nigerian medical doctors in the country are practising. When it is only one or two doctors that attend to hundreds of people in a day, there will be problems.”
A critical look at the dearth of specialist doctors shows that there is no podiatrist, a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the human foot. Currently, patients either go abroad or are managed by orthopaedic surgeon. Nigeria can boast of four forensic pathologists in the country, a specialist who investigates the cause of death.
In the area of geriatrics, there is only one geriatrics diagnostic centre in the country (University College Hospital, Ibadan) where the elderly aged 65 and above can receive specialist attention. However, Nigerian medical doctors prefer in popular areas like Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and surgery.
A peep into the paediatric workforce in Nigeria shows that there are 600 consultant paediatricians to manage and care for the nation’s 70 million children. This is unlike the United Kingdom which has 3,084 trained consultant paediatricians, 1,184 associate paediatric specialists and about 3,174 paediatricians currently undergoing training to cater for her 20 million children.
Solving this impasse, Dr. Enabulele task the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation for residency programme of young doctors, improved salary and welfare packages to make those that are qualified stay in the country.
