The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna State Branch, on Monday, raised an alarm over the scarcity of medical doctors in the state, saying that presently only one,600 doctors are licensed to practise, down from about 2000 doctors.
Dr Aisha Mustapha, the state chairman of the affiliation stated the declining variety of doctors, coupled with insecurity, poor remuneration, skilled burnout and insufficient healthcare infrastructure, was threatening efficient healthcare supply.
Speaking through the press convention held on Monday in Kaduna, forward of the 2026 National Physicians’ Week, themed “Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria,” she additional added that Kaduna State had an estimated doctor-to-population ratio of 1 doctor to six,000 residents, describing the state of affairs as a serious problem requiring pressing intervention.
“The number of doctors currently licensed to practise in Kaduna State is approximately 1,600. We used to have about 2,000, but because of all these challenges, the numbers keep declining,” she stated.
The NMA Chairman warned that the declining workforce was rising strain on out there doctors, making it essential for the federal government to strengthen recruitment and retention measures.
She recognized poor remuneration, insufficient staffing, restricted profession development, insecurity and troublesome working situations as a number of the components discouraging doctors from remaining in the state’s healthcare system.
According to her, enhancing doctors’ welfare and offering a conducive working setting had been important to reversing the development.
She additionally expressed concern over disparities in remuneration between doctors employed by the Kaduna State Government and their counterparts in educating hospitals, saying the state of affairs had inspired inside migration inside the healthcare system.
She acknowledged efforts by the state authorities to enhance doctors’ remuneration however stated extra wanted to be accomplished to make sure that doctors in basic hospitals weren’t deprived.
She defined that when doctors moved from basic hospitals to establishments providing higher monetary advantages, the services they left behind had been additional weakened by staffing shortages.
Mustapha known as for wage harmonisation and improved working situations to encourage doctors to stay in public hospitals and supply important medical providers to residents.
She additionally recognized insecurity as a serious impediment to retaining doctors, notably in communities the place healthcare employees faced threats to their security.
“Some of us, even if we get a job in certain hospitals where we would love to work, will not be able to go there because of the insecurity situation in that area,” she stated.
According to her, residents in affected communities nonetheless wanted medical consideration regardless of the safety challenges confronting their areas.
She urged the federal government and safety companies to work collectively to guard healthcare employees and make sure that hospitals remained accessible to sufferers.
