Mass departure of medical professionals puts Nigerian healthcare at risk as Ikefuna assumes leadership role at NPMCN

Medical professionals in Nigeria are expressing concerns about the country's worsening brain drain, as evidenced by the large number of doctors migrating abroad, with Prof. Anthony Ikefuna being formally invested as the 24th President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, NPMCN.

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The continued migration of doctors could potentially cripple the country's health system, prompting stakeholders to call for urgent reforms to strengthen postgraduate medical education and retain specialists in Nigeria.

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At the investiture ceremony, government officials, leaders of professional medical bodies, and academics congratulated the new president and emphasized the need for reforms to address the brain drain, with the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Isiaq Adekunle Salako, stating that the government is actively pursuing reforms to strengthen the country's health workforce.

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Representing the Minister, Dr. Abisola Adegoke said the government is making efforts through policy reforms, but implementation requires collaboration from all stakeholders, and urged medical professionals to remain committed to the country while the government improves working conditions and expands opportunities in the health sector.

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Adegoke emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying "We must all contribute in our own way so that even those abroad will be encouraged to return and share the knowledge they have acquired."

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The federal government views the National Postgraduate Medical College as a key partner in the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which aims to strengthen human resources for health and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.

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Dr. Fatimah Kyari, of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, highlighted the scale of the migration challenge facing the health sector, revealing that about 4,900 doctors and dental surgeons were newly registered in 2024, yet more than 4,200 applied for Certificates of Good Standing, a document often required for overseas employment.

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About 66 per cent of those requests were for the United Kingdom, according to Kyari, who also noted that in 2025, over 5,000 new doctors were registered, while 3,800 applied for the certificate, with the United Kingdom accounting for about 54 per cent of the applications and Canada about 24 per cent.

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Despite the migration trend, Kyari noted that Nigeria is expanding medical education capacity to address workforce shortages, with the intake capacity for medical and dental students increasing from about 5,700 in 2023 to about 9,100 in 2025.

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The expansion aligns with national health sector reforms aimed at strengthening the supply of healthcare professionals, according to Kyari.

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Prof. Apollos Ndukuba, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, warned that the continued loss of doctors could push the health system toward crisis, saying "The exam halls are almost getting empty" and "Hospitals advertise for residency posts and nobody comes."

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Ndukuba emphasized that Nigeria's already limited health workforce could deteriorate further if urgent steps are not taken, stating "A family without children is a family heading toward extinction. As doctors, we must confront the challenges facing our profession before it is too late."

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Ndukuba called for stronger collaboration between medical institutions, professional bodies, and the government to address the push and pull factors driving doctors abroad.

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Prof. Anthony Ikefuna, in his inaugural address, outlined plans to modernise postgraduate medical training and enhance the global competitiveness of Nigerian specialists, including the introduction of bimonthly online lectures, competency-based assessments, and digital learning platforms to improve training for resident doctors.

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Ikefuna said "Education is evolving in the digital age, and we must apply technology in training so that our graduates can compete with their peers globally."

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The college also plans to establish clinical skills simulation laboratories, a telemedicine centre, and improved digital communication channels for fellows and trainees, according to Ikefuna.

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Ikefuna acknowledged that the migration of doctors remains a complex challenge, saying "The brain drain is multifactorial. Our responsibility as a college is to continue training competent specialists who can serve both Nigeria and the global community."

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Dr. Mamadou Mourtalla Ka, President of the West African College of Physicians (WACP), congratulated Ikefuna on behalf of the college’s council and fellows, describing his investiture as a major milestone for postgraduate medical education.

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Mourtalla Ka said "Leadership at this level requires vision, integrity and commitment to excellence" and expressed confidence that under Ikefuna's guidance, the College will continue to advance postgraduate medical education and uphold the highest standards of clinical competence while promoting service to humanity.

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The WACP and the Nigerian college have a history of collaboration in training, examinations, and faculty engagement, which has helped produce specialists serving across Nigeria and the wider West African region, according to Mourtalla Ka.

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Mourtalla Ka assured Ikefuna of continued partnership and goodwill with the National Postgraduate Medical College as he assumes the presidency.