Federal Teaching Hospitals Face Emptying as Health Workers Flee

The Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) of Federal Teaching Hospitals have raised urgent concerns about the mass migration of healthcare workers to foreign countries, despite significant investments by the Federal Government in the nation’s health infrastructure.

At a recent session in Abuja with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Health Institutions, the CMDs warned that the country’s healthcare sector faces the risk of collapsing, as skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, continue to leave in large numbers due to inadequate compensation.

Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, the Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), described the exodus as alarming and stressed the need for immediate intervention. He pointed out that health professionals were resigning and retiring at a rapid pace, and unless the issue of remuneration is addressed, the nation’s hospitals could soon be devoid of qualified personnel.

He said, “If the trend continues, we could face a situation where our hospitals are empty. Government investments in infrastructure are meaningless if the workers are not adequately remunerated. Consultants are earning less than $1,000 a month, which is unsustainable.”

Professor Adeyemo also shared LUTH’s budget performance for 2024, revealing a total budget of N19.2 billion. Despite having N13.57 billion allocated for personnel, a significant portion of this budget remains unutilized due to the ongoing staff exodus. For 2025, LUTH’s proposed budget stands at N32.7 billion, with a substantial increase in personnel funding to address these concerns.

Federal Teaching Hospitals Face Emptying as Health Workers Flee

Meanwhile, Professor Jesse Abiodun, the Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, echoed similar concerns. He expressed frustration over the delay in releasing budgeted funds, which has negatively impacted hospital operations. UCH’s capital appropriation for 2024 amounted to N5.6 billion, yet only 38 percent of these funds were released, with the remainder still pending.

“This delay has forced us to manage with what we have, and while we’ve tried to adjust, the situation is unsustainable,” he explained. For 2025, UCH is proposing a capital budget of N4.3 billion, a reduction from the previous year, due to constraints in the funding system.

Budget Discrepancies and Economic Strain Push Health Workers Abroad

Despite the alarming situation, the CMDs remain hopeful that with adequate funding and prompt action on remuneration, the situation can be salvaged. However, they emphasized that ongoing economic pressures—ranging from low wages to delayed fund releases—are the main driving factors behind the health worker exodus.

As part of the committee’s meeting, the Chairman, Hon. Patrick Umoh, urged the CMDs to provide more comprehensive presentations in order to offer a clearer understanding of their hospitals’ situations. “We need a full picture of the challenges and proposals to address them. Your presentations will help inform further deliberations,” he said.

Federal Health Institutions Struggle with Underfunding and Workforce Loss

Hon. Umoh also lamented the precarious situation facing tertiary health institutions across the country. The committee plans to review all submissions from teaching hospitals and federal medical centers to ensure appropriate action is taken to prevent further deterioration of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

While the committee couldn’t meet with all health institutions on the day, it has pledged to consider all submissions and work towards solutions in subsequent meetings. The clock is ticking for Nigeria’s healthcare sector, and without substantial reforms, it may face irreversible damage.