Dr Temitope Farombi, a neurologist at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, has expressed deep concern over the severe shortage of neurological and psychiatric specialists in Nigeria. She described the current numbers as grossly inadequate for a population exceeding 230 million.
Alarming statistics revealed
Farombi, who also serves as the founder of the Brain Centre Neuro-Critical and Rehabilitation Services in Ibadan, shared these concerns during an interview with The Guardian. She stated that Nigeria currently has fewer than 100 neurologists and less than 200 psychiatrists. This shortage poses serious risks to the accessibility of mental and neurological healthcare services across the nation.
“The minimum years required to produce a neurologist or psychiatrist is about 13 to 14 years. Right now, we have fewer than 100 neurologists and fewer than 200 psychiatrists in the country. This is grossly inadequate for our population,” she explained.
Impact on healthcare access
The medical expert, who holds a PhD in Global Health from a British university, warned that the shortage of specialists has widened the healthcare gap. Many Nigerians are left without access to qualified medical care. She noted that Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio remains far below global standards, with one doctor reportedly attending to approximately 6,000 patients.
According to Farombi, this situation has created opportunities for quack practitioners to thrive, particularly in underserved communities where access to qualified healthcare professionals is limited.
Brain drain exacerbates crisis
Farombi attributed the worsening manpower crisis to the continued migration of Nigerian doctors abroad in search of better welfare packages and working conditions. She revealed that more than 4,300 Nigerian doctors have relocated to the United Kingdom within the last three years alone.
Infrastructure and financial challenges
The neurologist also lamented poor healthcare infrastructure, inadequate equipment, and the inability of many patients to afford treatment due to insufficient government support. “In many cases, doctors are willing to help, but the system does not support them. Patients cannot pay, facilities are lacking, and the pressure on health workers is enormous,” she added.
Call for urgent government action
Farombi called on the government to urgently address the crisis by improving welfare packages for health workers, investing in healthcare infrastructure, and strengthening policies aimed at retaining skilled professionals within the country. She also advocated for task-shifting strategies and greater utilization of other healthcare professionals to help bridge existing gaps in service delivery.
