The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Wednesday highlighted the country’s alarming doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,083, calling it far below global best practice, and announced a new directive limiting continuous on-call duties to 24 hours.
Signed by NARD President Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, Secretary-General Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity Secretary Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim, the statement came on Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary. The association cited a population exceeding 240 million and only about 11,000 resident doctors, noting that residents often work 106.5 hours weekly, with surgical residents enduring up to 122.7 hours.
NARD warned that prolonged shifts jeopardize patient safety and doctors’ wellbeing, increasing risks of medical errors and burnout. The association urged the Federal Ministry of Health to implement a one-to-one replacement policy, regulate call hours, and ensure fair remuneration to retain doctors.
“Resident doctors who remain in Nigeria are patriots and heroes,” NARD stated, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic reform to safeguard both doctors and patients.
