South-East Has Four States in Nigeria’s Top 12 for Registered Doctors
Nigeria’s healthcare debate often focuses on medical tourism, brain drain, weak infrastructure and overstretched public hospitals. However, data from the 2024 State of Health of the Nation Report points to a notable medical-professional presence in the South-East. The report lists Enugu with 2,278 registered doctors and Imo with 1,711, ranking third and fourth nationally. Anambra and Ebonyi also appear in the top 12, with 467 and 433 registered doctors respectively. For a five-state region, having four states on this list suggests a strong base of medical human capital. In my view, this reflects years of investment in medical schools, teaching hospitals, private clinics, laboratories, pharmacies and specialist services. The South-East still faces major problems, including doctor migration, ageing facilities and limited advanced medical technology. But it has a foundation that can be developed into stronger specialist care, research and healthcare tourism. The figures also raise questions for resource-rich states. Revenue from oil and other public resources should translate into functional hospitals, diagnostic centres, emergency services, affordable care and well-equipped medical facilities. Nigeria should judge development not only by a state’s revenue or natural resources, but by the quality of healthcare available to its people. Source: State of Health of the Nation Report 2024, as cited by Statisense.
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