On September 3, 2025, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) raised urgent concerns over the escalating “Japa syndrome,” warning that the mass migration of health professionals is crippling Nigeria’s healthcare system, as reported by Vanguard and The Punch. NARD President Dr. Tope Osundara, speaking at the 45th Annual General Meeting in Katsina, revealed resident doctors dropped from 15,000 in 2014 to 8,000 in 2025 due to poor remuneration, exhaustive conditions, and manpower shortages, leading to increased patient risks (Web:0, Web:1). He noted a decade without collective bargaining for salary enhancements, with inflation at 34.19% eroding earnings (NBS, 2025; Web:0).
NMA Lagos Chairman Dr. Babajide Saheed outlined four measures: CONMESS review, welfare packages like housing and car loans, training, and conducive environments (Web:0). AMLSN President Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi called migration a “national emergency,” with tens of thousands leaving in three years, leaving hospitals overstretched (Web:0). PSN’s Bola Oyawole condemned selective physician compensation, noting 8,000 pharmacists unsubscribed in five years (Web:0). MDCAN President Prof. Appolos Ndukuba urged living wages, security, and equipment investments, with Nigeria’s 1:10,000 doctor-to-patient ratio far below WHO’s 1:600 (Web:0, Web:2). X posts from @NARD_Nigeria (September 3, 2025) demanded action, while @Naija_Activist reported 78% public outrage (Afrobarometer, 2025) (Post:3). The bodies warned of potential healthcare collapse without reforms (Web:1).
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