“67% of Nigerian Doctors Work in the UK; NHS Would Struggle if They Left – Pate”

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has disclosed that approximately 67% of Nigerian doctors are currently practicing in the United Kingdom. He also emphasized the global demand for Nigerian-trained doctors and nurses, noting that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) would face significant challenges if Nigerian doctors were to withdraw.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Tuesday, Pate suggested that countries like the UK, which recruit Nigerian health professionals, should help expand pre-service education programs in Nigeria to address the ongoing migration of health workers. He stated, “The UK relies on Nigerian doctors, with 67% of our doctors working there, and 25% of the NHS workforce being Nigerian.”

Pate proposed that recruiting countries have a responsibility to support the training of health professionals in Nigeria, suggesting the creation of agreements to ensure that for every professional hired, there is a commitment to help train more. This approach would balance the migration with local training efforts.

He also pointed out that over 75% of health workers trained in Nigeria over the past year have left the country for opportunities abroad. While acknowledging the inevitability of migration, Pate mentioned the government’s efforts to create a more favorable environment to encourage health workers to stay and practice in Nigeria.

“We’re not stopping anyone from leaving. We understand that migration is here to stay—people will leave, some will come back, and some will migrate here from elsewhere. However, we will work on making the environment more conducive to make you more likely to stay than leave, and to attract those who’ve left, to come back,” Pate said.

He added that the newly approved National Policy on Health Workforce Migration by President Bola Tinubu will introduce incentives for medical workers to remain in Nigeria, focusing on improved welfare and enhanced capacity development.