Northern Nigeria is struggling with a concerning scarcity of medical doctors, thereby depriving thousands of access to healthcare.
According to a fresh study from the SBM Health Preparedness Index 2025, one doctor is in charge of treating more than 43,000 patients in states including Bauchi, Zamfara, and Kebbi, therefore exposing a growing deficit in the healthcare delivery system of the nation.
The assessment of the capacity of Nigeria’s 36 states to handle health emergencies and provide basic care paints a concerning picture of regional inequity.
Northern states register some of the worst inequalities, although southern states like Enugu and Lagos have better doctor-to-patient ratios—one doctor to 299 and 2,136 patients respectively. With 54,249 patients per doctor, Bauchi heads followed by Zamfara with 49,266 and Jigawa with 48,466.
The News Chronicle reports that this situation is aggravated by the persistent migration of trained medical professionals seeking better pay and working conditions abroad.
This trend, often described as a “brain drain,” means Nigeria continues to lose valuable human capital after investing heavily in medical education.
Health experts warn that unless urgent steps are taken, such as improving welfare packages, investing in medical infrastructure, and ensuring security for health workers, the already strained system could collapse further.
Furthermore revealed by the report are significant differences in state-level healthcare funding.
With more than N221 billion going to health, Lagos leads in nominal allocations; Kaduna leads in percentage terms, allotting 16.1 percent of its whole budget.
States like Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Imo, however, spend less than 5% on healthcare even while being exposed to disease epidemics and other disasters.
