Lagos State is grappling with a major healthcare crisis, with a shortage of about 40,000 doctors and a funding gap exceeding N100 billion, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.
Speaking at the second Eko Health Convention in Lagos, the governor disclosed that the state currently has about 7,000 doctors, far below the number required to meet the needs of its growing population.
He said the shortage extends to nursing staff, with an estimated 40,000 additional nurses needed, leaving existing health workers overstretched.
Health experts have linked the crisis to the ongoing migration of Nigerian medical professionals abroad, worsening workforce shortages across the country.
Sanwo-Olu identified manpower and funding as the two biggest challenges facing the sector, warning that declining donor support for disease control programs is adding pressure on the system.
Despite the gaps, the governor said the state is taking steps to improve healthcare delivery. These include ongoing recruitment of health workers, improved welfare packages, and plans to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences to boost training capacity.
He also noted that more than 1.5 million residents have enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, indicating growing access to healthcare services.
Additionally, the state is deploying digital solutions through its Smart Health Information Platform to improve patient record management, disease tracking, and planning.
Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to long-term reforms, saying efforts are focused on building a sustainable healthcare system that will endure beyond the current administration.
