Navigating the shortage of medical doctors in Kwara hospitals

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

Kwara State is home to an estimated three million residents spread across its sixteen local government areas.

With such a large population and the increasing health demands of a modern lifestyle, there is a correspondingly high demand for medical care—both in public and private healthcare facilities.

Doctors, as the primary healthcare providers, play a critical role in consultations, prescription of medication, and the treatment of various health conditions. However, healthcare service delivery in Kwara is being hampered by a critical shortage of doctors across its 45 government-owned hospitals.

According to findings by Western Post, Kwara State currently has just 89 doctors with various specializations working in these facilities—a figure grossly inadequate for the volume of patients needing care.

In the past three months alone, a total of 43,065 patients were seen across these hospitals. Within the same period, 12,000 pregnant women—including 3,000 newly registered—received antenatal care, while 1,000 surgeries were carried out. The hospitals also recorded 1,384 childbirths, 131 of which were through cesarean sections, and unfortunately, 40 mortalities.

These figures highlight the immense pressure on the limited number of doctors, many of whom are reportedly overworked. Some doctors have been observed working for 24 hours straight, with a few collapsing on duty due to exhaustion.

While the state government is willing to recruit more medical professionals, a major challenge remains the inability to find available doctors—likely due to the current salary structure and the ongoing “Japa” syndrome, where professionals emigrate in search of better opportunities abroad.

To address the situation, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board (HMB), Dr. AbdulRaheem Malik, revealed that a proposal has been submitted to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The proposal involves a sponsorship scheme where the state funds the training of medical students from their clinical years (400 level) for two to three years. In return, the students will be mandated to serve the state for a period equivalent to the duration of their sponsorship before opting to leave.

He noted that the HMB is developing a mobile application that would allow patients to book appointments with doctors from their homes, thereby reducing overcrowding and wait times at hospitals.

The Executive Secretary also disclosed that capacity-building efforts are in full swing. For the first time in the state, nurses will be trained as interns to mitigate the effects of the brain drain. The program will also include internship opportunities for pharmacists.

Over the last three months, the HMB has trained 200 nursing students and other healthcare professionals as part of efforts to bridge the manpower gap in healthcare facilities.

“In most of our hospitals, doctors are not sufficient. Patients often have to wait a long time to be attended to. This is not unique to Kwara—it’s happening in other states as well,” Dr. Malik explained.

“We have the governor’s approval to recruit more doctors, but they are hard to find. We’re working on an improved salary scheme. Beyond remuneration, we are also putting incentives in place to encourage retention. Doctors have become hot commodities,” he added.

Dr. Malik emphasized that the HMB is mandated to provide responsive and equitable healthcare services to all residents of Kwara State. The board is responsible for ensuring that all government hospitals operate effectively in delivering quality healthcare.

He commended Governor AbdulRazaq for approving key healthcare initiatives, including the installation of solar-powered electricity as an alternative energy source in many hospitals, as well as the renovation of healthcare facilities across the three senatorial districts.

The board has also facilitated the re-accreditation of six hospitals—something that had not occurred in over 20 years—and has overseen the upgrade of hospital laboratories.

To complete the circle of healthcare service delivery, Dr. Malik concluded that the board is also working to ensure the steady availability of essential drugs in hospital pharmacies across the state.