The Nigerian government’s answer to shortages of healthcare professionals in public hospitals is to extend the retirement age for doctors from 60 to 65. This is unlikely to make much difference as the system struggles to cope with the “japa” syndrome of doctors and nurses leaving Nigeria for better pay and conditions abroad.
The World Health Organisation recommends a doctor to patient ratio of 1 to 1,000 and in Nigeria it is 1 doctor to 10,000. Al Jazeera reporter Ahmed Idris visited what should be the best public hospital in the country – the National Hospital in Abuja – and said “patients far exceed the number of doctors”. He was told by health workers that “low wages and lack of medical equipment are the root of the problem”.
One pregnant woman said things were worse now than with her previous pregnancy in which a lot of what she needed was available at the hospital. Idris said chief medical directors at a recent meeting warned that hospitals could run out of staff to go with the loss of equipment. About 16,000 Nigerian doctors left to work abroad between 2016 and 2022. They mainly went to the UK, US and Canada. The Nigerian Nursing and Midwifery Council said they have lost 42,000 members.
The problem is compounded by the use of outdated equipment. This dangerous combination has led to several misdiagnoses and deaths. Health minister Mohammed Ali Pate told Al Jazeera that they were focusing on training. More training or extending the retirement age would appear to be applying sticking plasters to a gunshot wound. He mentioned as an afterthought “working hard” on improving infrastructure and equipment.
The pregnant patient hoped by the time her baby is born conditions would have improved in Nigeria’s hospitals. But there was little evidence of this from the report.
What may help Nigerian patients is the recent launch this year of MyCyberClinics with an aim to bring healthcare closer to people via a digital platform as well as “seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology with compassionate care while ensuring every Nigerian enjoys affordable access to top-tier medical service. The aim is to empower Nigerians to live healthier, more fulfilling lives”.
New Cyberclinic aims to reshape the healthcare landscape in Nigeria
The team says: At Cyber Clinic, we are passionate about revolutionizing healthcare in Nigeria. Our telemedicine platform has been specifically designed to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and patients, ensuring that everyone has access to high-quality medical consultations and services.
Leveraging the power of technology, we have created a platform where you can gain vital health information, easily access a range of services, and receive comprehensive medical consultations all from the comfort of your own home. Our team of experienced compassionate physicians is dedicated to providing the care you need, whenever you need it. With Cyber Clinic, you can say goodbye to long wait times and the other hassles of physical appointments, and hello to a convenient seamless, user-friendly healthcare experience.
This looks like a stronger proposition for Nigeria’s huge healthcare challenges than what the health minister was offering, with the possession of a phone mitigating against the challenges that many Nigerian patients face in terms of access to a healthcare professional. Nigerian governments at all levels can do no worse than developing policies to support private ventures such as this one.
