Nigeria doctor shortage hits crisis point as NARD ends 24-hour shifts, citing burnout and unsustainable workloads under a 1:9,083 doctor-patient ratio

Nigeria doctor shortage has reached a critical point, with the country’s resident doctors announcing an end to continuous shifts beyond 24 hours, citing burnout, overwork, and growing safety concerns for both patients and practitioners.

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The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), in a statement marking the country’s 65th Independence Day, decried the alarming doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083, calling it a dangerous deviation from global best practices.

The directive, which came into effect on 1 October 2025, mandates that no resident doctor will work more than 24 hours at a stretch without a call-free period in between.

The association described this as a “vital” measure aligned with the Hippocratic Oath’s principle of self-preservation.

Signed by NARD President Dr Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim, the statement painted a stark picture of Nigeria’s strained healthcare system.

“With an estimated population of over 240 million and just 11,000 resident doctors, Nigeria records a ratio of 1:9,083. This is far from global best practice,” the association stated.

Nigeria’s healthcare crisis has been exacerbated by the mass exodus of medical professionals.

Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof Muhammad Pate, revealed that over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left the country in the past 5 to 7 years, mostly in search of better pay and working conditions abroad.

Those who remain face back-breaking schedules. NARD highlighted that Nigerian resident doctors work an average of 106.5 hours per week, with surgical residents often logging up to 122.7 hours — equivalent to four to five full-day call duties every week.

“This situation is deeply troubling,” the association warned. “It inevitably leads to increased medical errors due to burnout, endangering patient safety, and takes a severe toll on the mental, physical, and psychological wellbeing of doctors.”

In what it called an urgent and non-negotiable reform, NARD urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to implement a one-for-one replacement policy for doctors leaving the system and to introduce formal regulations limiting excessive call hours.

The association added that doctors who have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite the challenges are “patriots and heroes” who deserve protection, better pay, and fair working conditions.

The tragic consequences of the current system, NARD stressed, are already evident in the untimely deaths of young doctors. “Too often, resident doctors sacrifice their health — and sometimes their lives — in service to their patients. The painful question remains: how many more lives must we lose before decisive action is taken?”

Ending on a reflective note, NARD called for immediate reforms while extending Independence Day wishes to Nigerians: