Nigeria’s healthcare system, already under considerable strain, is facing new challenges as more than 4,691 doctors have migrated to the United Kingdom since President Bola Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, according to the General Medical Council (GMC).
The GMC maintains a public register of practising doctors in the UK, providing details such as their specialties and countries of training.
This large-scale migration is not merely a loss of skilled professionals—it also represents a significant economic setback. The Nigerian government estimates that training one doctor costs about $21,000, meaning the country has lost approximately $98.5 million in training investments in less than two years.
Currently, there are about 15,692 Nigerian-trained doctors practising in the UK, making Nigeria the second-largest source of foreign-trained doctors in Britain, after India. Official records show that as of May 28, 2025, the UK had just over 11,000 Nigerian-trained doctors—a figure that has grown substantially.
The departure of doctors is particularly troubling, given Nigeria’s doctor-to-population ratio stands at roughly 3.9 per 10,000 people, well below the World Health Organisation’s recommended minimum.
Health experts say the numbers confirm a long-standing reality: Nigeria is steadily losing its most vital healthcare workforce. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has repeatedly warned that poor pay, unsafe working conditions, and inadequate infrastructure are driving doctors out of the country.
Our members are overworked, underpaid, and exposed to unsafe environments daily. Many are simply burnt out, the NMA stated in a recent address on workforce migration.
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has also highlighted the impact on younger doctors, who form the core of Nigeria’s tertiary healthcare system. NARD notes that doctors are leaving due to irregular salaries, excessive workloads, and a lack of training opportunities.
Ironically, as doctors continue to exit, Nigeria spends heavily on healthcare abroad. Official foreign exchange data shows modest spending on medical tourism, but broader estimates suggest Nigerians pay hundreds of millions of dollars annually for treatment overseas.
For example, a recent report by The PUNCH found that foreign exchange outflows for health-related travel by Nigerians reached $549.29 million in the first nine months of 2025—a 17.96% increase from $465.67 million during the same period in 2024, according to Nigeria’s central bank.
Public health expert Dr. David Adewole notes that the government’s national policy on health workforce migration, although well-intentioned, may not address the underlying issue of skilled healthcare shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
He notes that many of the reasons health professionals leave—including insecurity, inadequate pay, lack of basic amenities, high living costs, and unreliable electricity—persist.
To retain healthcare workers, salaries must be sufficient to cover basic needs like food, power, and housing, with enough left over, Dr. Adewole explains. People also consider life after retirement. Effective policies are crucial, but their implementation is equally important. Retirement benefits should be processed promptly and pensions paid regularly, without delays.
He adds, “When you visit hospitals abroad, if you’re in a hurry, they deliver medicines to your home. These conveniences are lacking here.
