By Divine Sam

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kaduna State Branch, has raised concerns over the declining number of medical doctors in the state, warning that the situation could further undermine healthcare delivery.

The association disclosed on Monday that the number of licensed doctors in Kaduna had dropped from approximately 2,000 to just 1,600, citing insecurity, poor remuneration, inadequate medical facilities and professional burnout as major factors driving the decline.

The state chairman of the NMA, Dr Aisha Mustapha, raised the alarm during a press conference in Kaduna ahead of the 2026 National Physicians’ Week, themed “Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria.”

Mustapha said the state was facing a serious shortage of medical personnel, with an estimated doctor-to-population ratio of one physician to 6,000 residents.

She warned that the growing gap between the number of doctors and the population was placing additional pressure on the available workforce and threatening access to quality medical services.

“The number of doctors currently licensed to practise in Kaduna State is approximately 1,600. We used to have about 2,000, but because of all these challenges, the numbers keep declining,” she said.

The NMA chairman identified poor salaries, limited career advancement opportunities, difficult working conditions and inadequate staffing as some of the major reasons doctors were leaving the state’s healthcare system.

She stressed that improving the welfare of medical professionals and providing a more conducive working environment were essential to reversing the trend.

Mustapha also expressed concern over differences in remuneration between doctors working in Kaduna State Government-owned hospitals and those employed by teaching hospitals.

According to her, the disparity has encouraged some doctors to leave general hospitals for institutions offering better financial benefits, further worsening staffing shortages in the facilities they abandon.

Although she acknowledged the state government’s efforts to improve doctors’ salaries, she maintained that additional measures were needed to ensure fair treatment across the healthcare system.

She called for salary harmonisation and better working conditions to encourage doctors to remain in public hospitals and continue providing essential medical services to residents.

Beyond remuneration, Mustapha described insecurity as another major challenge affecting the retention and deployment of doctors, particularly in communities where healthcare workers face threats to their safety.

“Some of us, even if we get a job in certain hospitals where we would love to work, will not be able to go there because of the insecurity situation in that area,” she said.

She noted that residents in vulnerable communities still required medical attention despite the security challenges, warning that the absence of healthcare professionals could leave many people without access to essential treatment.

The NMA chairman consequently urged the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to strengthen collaboration to protect medical personnel, improve healthcare infrastructure and ensure hospitals remain accessible to patients.

She emphasised that addressing the shortage would require sustained investment in doctors’ welfare, improved security and policies capable of attracting and retaining qualified medical professionals across the state.

The association’s warning adds to growing concerns over healthcare staffing and the need to create working conditions that encourage medical professionals to remain in Nigeria’s public health system.