Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, on Wednesday, revealed that the state’s healthcare system is severely understaffed, requiring 30,000 more medical doctors.
Abayomi, who spoke at the ongoing 2024 Clean-Air Forum in Lagos, lamented that the state’s health care system lacked 30,000 medical practitioners to meet its needs.
The health commissioner said the scarcity of medical professionals has led to the sector having an overworked and overstretched workforce, struggling to bridge the gap in the available doctor-to-patient ratio.
Abayomi said, “The dearth of medical doctors in Lagos has overstretched the available officials, making it challenging to bridge the gap in the available doctor-to-patient ratio.
“Brain drain has significantly contributed to this personnel deficit.”
He stressed the need for inter-agency collaborations to address the crisis, adding that the state urgently required more medical professionals to cater to its growing population.
“Lagos’ annual population growth rate of 6-8% poses significant challenges, including a complex tuberculosis index, which we are actively working to address,” he said.
The commissioner also underscored the importance of promoting air quality and halting environmental pollution, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts from various agencies.
“We will continue to support every effort to improve air quality, reduce airborne and waterborne diseases, and enhance the health and well-being of residents,” he said.
Acknowledging concerns about the shortage of bed spaces in state health centers, he said, “We are working to address this issue by constructing modern facilities and establishing a medical research institution, which will bridge the gap within 18 months and provide improved services to the public.”
