NMA worried over exodus of doctors

Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ondo State has expressed concerns over the worsening shortage of doctors in state government hospitals. It attributed the situation to the ongoing mass migration of health workers abroad called ‘Japa syndrome’.

The association in a statement yesterday by its Chairman, Dr. Muyiwa Alonge, lamented that many doctors had left government hospitals in search of better working conditions, leaving those who remained overstretched and overworked.

NMA said the few doctors still in service are handling heavy workloads, leading to burnout and reduced efficiency in health care delivery.

The association linked exodus in government- owned hospital to poor welfare packages, unpaid allowances and lack of incentives, urging the state and federal governments to address the issue, to prevent total collapse of the health system.

It noted that doctors no longer have time for their families or professional development, as they are often confined to their workplaces, sometimes as the only physician in the entire hospital.

NMA says the situation is worsened by the government’s failure to implement key welfare policies, including the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries (Circular SWC/S/04/S.218/IV/876 of November 19, 2025) and Accoutrement Allowance (Circular SWC/S/04/S.218/III/572 of July 26, 2025).

It described the welfare benefits as long overdue, revealing that federal health workers and those in several other states have been enjoying them for nearly a year.

NMA decried the non-payment of 2024 promotion allowances and the failure to recruit new doctors to replace those who have left, a development, it said, had compounded the pressure on the few remaining personnel.

The association says doctors are now forced to work with obsolete or non-existent equipment in dilapidated facilities, often improvising to keep health care services running.

It said doctors had made attempts to engage the state government through letters and meetings since November 2025, including submission of a position paper aimed at revitalising the health care sector, but regretted there had been no positive response.

The doctors have issued a four-point demand to the state government, including immediate implementation of salary adjustments with arrears, payment of accoutrement and promotion allowances, and urgent recruitment of health care workers.

The association also gave the government until April 28 to address the issues, warning that failure to act will lead to an emergency congress where members will decide on further actions, including a possible strike.