Nigeria Must Urgently Reform Healthcare System to Avert Workforce Crisis, Says Ijadunola

Nigeria faces a severe threat to its national health security and sustainable development due to a critical shortage of healthcare professionals, according to Professor Thadius Ijadunola. Speaking at the 5th Oladipo Akinkugbe Distinguished Lecture, Ijadunola described the current situation as a 'double depletion,' resulting from the mass migration of younger professionals and the retirement of experienced personnel. This exodus weakens both immediate healthcare delivery and the capacity for future leadership within the sector.

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The health workforce attrition crisis constitutes an existential threat to health security and institutional resilience. The simultaneous loss of younger professionals through migration and experienced workers through retirement creates a ‘double depletion’ effect, weakening both current service delivery and future leadership capacity.

Ijadunola, a Professor of Community Medicine at Obafemi Awolowo University, stressed that reversing this trend demands bold policy decisions and sustained investment. He called for coordinated action from governments, healthcare institutions, and development partners. The professor outlined the need for a multi-pronged strategy that includes managed migration frameworks, enhanced remuneration, and improved working conditions. Crucially, he emphasized targeted expansion of the primary healthcare workforce to prevent a catastrophic decline in the nation's health security architecture.

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By addressing the fundamental gaps in health funding, human resources management, gender-responsive care, health policy and legislative enactments, health research priorities, economic management and relevant constitutional provisions, Nigeria can build a healthcare system that truly works for all its citizens, leaving no one behind.

Furthermore, the professor advocated for far-reaching reforms across various aspects of the healthcare system. These include health financing, human resources management, gender-responsive healthcare, health policy, legislation, research priorities, economic management, and relevant constitutional provisions. He believes that by addressing these fundamental gaps, Nigeria can build an inclusive and resilient healthcare system that serves all citizens effectively. Ijadunola presented his lecture as a practical roadmap, asserting that renewed political commitment could enable Nigeria to leverage technology, innovation, and gender-equitable policies to improve access to quality and affordable healthcare.

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With a renewed commitment to healthcare as a national priority, Nigeria can leverage technology, innovation and a gender-equitable approach to deliver quality, accessible and affordable healthcare to its people. This is not just a moral imperative but a crucial step towards a healthier, more prosperous and more equitable nation.