The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised alarm over the country’s worsening doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083, describing it as far below global standards.
In a statement marking Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2025, NARD announced that resident doctors nationwide will no longer take continuous calls beyond 24 hours to curb burnout and safeguard patient safety.
The association, led by Dr. Mohammad Suleiman and other executives, lamented that Nigeria’s severe shortage of doctors is fueled by mass emigration, with over 16,000 doctors leaving in the past seven years.
With only about 11,000 resident doctors serving a population of 240 million, the workload has reached dangerous levels, forcing doctors to work over 106 hours weekly.
NARD warned that the current crisis endangers both patients and doctors, often leading to preventable deaths. It urged the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt a one-to-one replacement policy, regulate working hours, and improve remuneration to retain doctors.