Nigeria: Lagos needs 40,000 more doctors, N100 billion to improve healthcare, says Sanwo-Olu
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the state urgently needs about 40,000 additional doctors and thousands more nurses to meet the healthcare demands of its growing population.
Speaking at the second Eko Health Convention in Victoria Island, the governor revealed that Lagos currently has only about 7,000 doctors, far below what is required to provide adequate medical care.
According to him, the shortage means many doctors are handling workloads meant for several medical professionals, putting additional pressure on the state’s healthcare system.
Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that the health sector is facing a funding gap of at least N100 billion, explaining that current budget allocations are not enough to meet the state’s healthcare needs. He added that support from international donors for disease control programmes has continued to decline, making the funding challenge even more difficult.
Despite these challenges, the governor said the state government has begun recruiting healthcare workers across its secondary health facilities. He noted that efforts are also being made to improve workers’ welfare, provide accommodation, and encourage Nigerian health professionals living abroad to return home.
On health insurance, Sanwo-Olu announced that more than 1.5 million Lagos residents have enrolled in the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme. He said the programme has expanded access to affordable healthcare, with women making up more than half of the registered beneficiaries.
The governor also highlighted the impact of the state’s Assistance in Distress (AID) programme, saying it has already helped save 18 lives since it began operations in March. The initiative provides emergency medical care for victims of road accidents, surgical emergencies, pregnancy-related complications, stroke cases, and other critical conditions, regardless of their financial situation.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that the state is modernising healthcare services through the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform, a digital system that will allow hospitals to securely access patients’ medical records across public health facilities. He added that the government is also investing in artificial intelligence and other digital technologies to improve diagnosis, medical imaging, disease surveillance, and healthcare planning.
He said the ongoing reforms are designed to strengthen the healthcare system and ensure that the improvements continue to benefit Lagos residents well into the future.
