Nigeria faces specialist shortage in public hospitals

Nigeria is facing a critical shortage of medical specialists, creating a widening gap between the rising demand for care and the available workforce. This shortage is particularly impactful as the country sees an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disorders.

Patients in public secondary and tertiary hospitals are experiencing long wait times, postponed appointments, and restricted access to essential services. At facilities such as the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, patients reported being turned away due to daily registration limits or enduring entire days waiting to see a doctor. The growing patient population is increasingly overwhelming the dwindling number of trained specialists.