Kwara Govt Decries Shortage of Medical Doctors Amid Rising Brain Drain
By Safiyat Muhammed, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has expressed deep concern over the growing shortage of medical doctors across its health facilities, attributing the crisis to the persistent brain drain trend, popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome.”
Speaking during the 2025 first-quarter inter-ministerial press briefing organized by the Ministry of Communications in Ilorin, Dr. Abdulraheem Abdulmalik, Executive Secretary of the State Hospital Management Board, said despite Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s approval for the recruitment of more doctors, qualified candidates remain scarce.
“We have the Governor’s approval to recruit, but the challenge is availability. Doctors are in very high demand. If one resigns in the morning, he gets another job by afternoon,” he stated.
According to Dr. Abdulmalik, the state currently has 99 doctors on its payroll, far below the 180 to 200 doctors required to meet healthcare demands. He revealed that only three doctors have returned to service following a recent salary increment approved by the Governor, which raised the number from 96 to 99.
In response to the critical shortage, the board is developing a software solution that will allow patients to access real-time information on the number of available doctors at any of the state’s 45 health facilities. The innovation is aimed at reducing waiting time and preventing medical emergencies due to delayed attention.
Dr. Abdulmalik noted that rural communities are the most affected by the shortage and said the state government is working on incentive packages that will make working in such areas more attractive.
“We are planning a remuneration model comparable to international standards, especially in countries luring our doctors abroad,” he added.
To sustain a long-term solution, the state has proposed a medical school sponsorship initiative. Under this plan, the government will support students in clinical stages of their medical education with the agreement that they serve the state for a corresponding period upon graduation.
“This model will create a revolving cycle of medical personnel for the state. We plan to kick off the initiative within the next three to four years,” Dr. Abdulmalik explained.
When asked about the possible migration of nurses, he acknowledged that some would leave, but emphasized that the urgency remains higher for doctors.
“While some nurses also ‘japa,’ the social realities often keep them grounded. Most are women and their relocation depends largely on their family structure,” he noted.
