Nigeria Urges Global Action On Health Workforce Crisis

The federal government has called for a coordinated global response to the mounting health workforce crisis, highlighting the urgent need for investment, ethical migration policies, and stronger partnerships to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, made the call while delivering his keynote address at the 2026 United Kingdom Global Health Summit, themed: “Shaping Tomorrow’s Health, Together, held at the Royal College of Physicians.

The minister said the theme underscored a call to confront global health vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other converging crises.

“Even the wealthiest nations were brought to their knees by the pandemic, while the poorest and most marginalised bore the heaviest burden,” Dr. Salako said.

He emphasised that Nigeria, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, is implementing the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), a unified, data-driven approach to strengthen health systems nationwide.

Highlighting the global context, the Minister warned of a “polycrisis” affecting health systems worldwide, driven by financial, political, climatic, and demographic pressures.

He cited the IMF’s projection of slowed global growth, sub-Saharan Africa’s fiscal constraints, and climate-driven health risks, including food insecurity, vector-borne diseases, and heat-related mortality, as key challenges demanding urgent attention.

Dr. Salako also warned against the impact of the emigration of Nigerian health workers, estimating that the country loses over $366 million in training costs annually as doctors, nurses, and specialists seek opportunities abroad.