Medical association warns that inability to recruit doctors and nurses threatens healthcare delivery, urges government to treat medical education as a strategic investment rather than an expenditure.
By Anieka Umoh
Uyo, Akwa Ibom State | July 30, 2026
Introduction
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a growing shortage of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in the state, warning that the crisis could undermine healthcare delivery if urgent interventions are not implemented.
The association has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to establish at least seven medical training institutions, arguing that expanding medical education is the most sustainable solution to Nigeria’s widening healthcare workforce gap.
The appeal comes amid increasing concerns over the migration of Nigerian health professionals abroad, inadequate training capacity, and the growing demand for quality healthcare services across the country.
NMA Raises Alarm Over Shortage of Medical Personnel
Speaking during a press briefing in Uyo ahead of the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the NMA, Prof. Aniekan Peter, said the state was struggling to recruit sufficient numbers of qualified healthcare professionals despite government approval for new employment.
According to him, the inability to fill approved vacancies demonstrates that the shortage is no longer merely a recruitment challenge but a structural problem affecting medical education and workforce development.
He warned that unless deliberate investments are made in training future healthcare professionals, the shortage would continue to worsen.
Recruitment Drive Exposes Workforce Gap
Prof. Peter cited recent government recruitment exercises as evidence of the growing scarcity of qualified medical personnel.
He revealed that although Governor Umo Eno approved the recruitment of 400 doctors, authorities were unable to find enough qualified applicants to fill the available positions.
Similarly, he disclosed that efforts to recruit 700 nurses encountered significant difficulties, forcing the government to relax some recruitment criteria before the required number could eventually be attained.
According to the NMA chairman, these experiences highlight the urgent need to increase the number of institutions producing healthcare professionals.
“If there are vacancies for 100,000 teachers, you will likely find applicants immediately. But when 400 doctors were approved for employment, we could not get enough qualified people. That tells us something is fundamentally wrong.”
Medical Education Should Be Seen as an Investment
The Association argued that governments should no longer regard medical education as a financial burden but as a strategic investment capable of transforming healthcare delivery and stimulating economic development.
Prof. Peter described medical education as a form of empowerment that benefits individuals, strengthens health systems and improves public welfare.
He maintained that states investing heavily in medical training would be better positioned to meet future healthcare demands while reducing dependence on healthcare workers trained elsewhere.
One Medical School Is Not Enough, NMA Says
While commending Governor Umo Eno for approving the establishment of a medical school at Akwa Ibom State University, the Association said the initiative represents only a first step.
According to Prof. Peter, one medical school cannot adequately meet the healthcare manpower needs of a rapidly growing state.
He pointed to other states, including Delta, which have established multiple medical training institutions, arguing that Akwa Ibom should pursue a similar strategy.
“Medicine is no longer just a course; it is empowerment. If Akwa Ibom wants to become a leading state in healthcare, we must have at least seven medical schools.”
He said expanding opportunities for students to study medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and allied health professions would help address the state’s long-term workforce deficit.
Existing Hospitals Could Become Medical Training Centres
Rather than constructing entirely new facilities from scratch, the NMA proposed upgrading existing hospitals into teaching and training institutions.
Prof. Peter identified several healthcare facilities that could serve as the foundation for future medical schools, including:
- General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene
- General Hospital, Eket
- Ibom Specialist Hospital
According to him, these facilities already possess significant infrastructure that could be strengthened through partnerships with universities and government investment.
Such an approach, he argued, would accelerate medical education while reducing the cost of developing new institutions.
Nigeria’s Brain Drain Continues to Pressure Health Sector
The concerns raised by the Akwa Ibom NMA reflect a broader national challenge confronting Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Over the past decade, thousands of Nigerian doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals have migrated abroad in search of improved remuneration, better working conditions and greater career opportunities.
This phenomenon—commonly referred to as the “Japa” trend—has intensified workforce shortages across many states, particularly in specialist medical services.
Health policy experts warn that unless Nigeria significantly increases the production of healthcare professionals while improving retention, shortages are likely to persist despite ongoing recruitment exercises.
Implications for Healthcare Delivery
Medical experts say insufficient numbers of healthcare workers can have far-reaching consequences for patients and health systems.
These include:
- Longer waiting times for treatment.
- Increased workload for existing medical personnel.
- Reduced access to specialist healthcare.
- Higher risk of burnout among frontline workers.
- Slower emergency response capacity.
- Pressure on rural healthcare facilities.
Expanding medical education, they argue, would help strengthen healthcare resilience while improving access to quality medical services.
Experts Advocate Long-Term Health Workforce Planning
Health policy analysts believe addressing Nigeria’s healthcare workforce deficit requires coordinated national and state-level strategies.
They recommend:
- Expanding medical and nursing schools.
- Increasing funding for health education.
- Improving salaries and working conditions.
- Investing in modern teaching hospitals.
- Creating incentives to retain skilled professionals.
- Strengthening partnerships between government, universities and the private sector.
Such reforms, experts say, are essential to achieving universal health coverage and improving public confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The warning by the Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association underscores a growing national concern: Nigeria’s healthcare system cannot be strengthened without a sustained investment in human capital. While the approval of a medical school at Akwa Ibom State University has been welcomed, medical professionals argue that far more ambitious reforms are needed to bridge the widening workforce gap.
As governments across Nigeria confront increasing healthcare demands, the challenge extends beyond recruiting doctors and nurses—it requires expanding the pipeline that produces them. Whether Akwa Ibom embraces the NMA’s call for additional medical schools may ultimately determine the state’s capacity to provide quality healthcare for future generations.
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