Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, revealed that more than 16,000 medical doctors have left Nigeria in the past five to seven years to practice abroad.

Speaking at the Annual Capacity-Building Workshop of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) in Abuja, Prof. Pate attributed the migration to better economic opportunities, working conditions, and access to advanced training and research environments overseas.

“We have doubled the quotas for training in medical schools, pharmacy, nursing, and other health professions,” he said. “Our experience shows that when you train more, more might stay, and those who left often return.”

Prof. Pate also raised concerns about the maldistribution of Nigeria’s medical workforce, with more than 40% of the country’s doctors concentrated in Lagos and Abuja, leaving many areas underserved.

Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, added that Africa’s health systems are at a critical juncture, grappling with challenges like pandemics, non-communicable diseases, infrastructure gaps, and the ongoing migration of health workers.

Meanwhile, Prof. Joel Okullo, AMCOA President, highlighted the workshop as an important opportunity for African health professionals to collaborate and share knowledge.

Prof. Afolabi Lesi, Chairman of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), called on regulators to maintain high professional standards, noting that teamwork in Nigeria’s health sector is often hindered by internal conflicts and fractured relationships among professionals.