Lagos needs 40,000 more doctors, N100bn to fix health sector – Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Faces Healthcare Staffing and Funding Challenges, Governor Says
LAGOS—Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State announced on Thursday that the state needs approximately 40,000 additional doctors and nurses to address the healthcare requirements of its expanding population. He identified a funding gap of at least N100 billion in the healthcare sector during the opening of the second Eko Health Convention at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted that the number of practicing doctors in Lagos currently stands at about 7,000, indicating that each physician is serving the equivalent of ten. He emphasized that inadequate healthcare personnel and insufficient funding are two significant challenges the state faces, particularly as international donor support for disease control programs has seen a decline.
“The healthcare system in Lagos requires more resources than the current budget can provide,” Sanwo-Olu stated. He pointed out the critical shortfall of N100 billion between the budget allocation and the actual financial needs of the health sector.
To mitigate the manpower shortage, the governor noted that the state has initiated large-scale recruitment efforts, improved welfare packages for healthcare workers, and is planning to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Recruitment efforts are currently underway across all 29 secondary healthcare facilities in the state, with the government also ensuring better working conditions and accommodations to retain staff and encourage expatriated professionals to return.
In terms of health insurance, Sanwo-Olu reported that over 1.5 million residents have enrolled in the state’s Ilera Eko health insurance scheme. This uptake is indicative of expanded access to healthcare services since the implementation of a mandatory social health insurance policy, following the domestication of the National Health Insurance Authority Act. The governor noted that more than half of the enrollees are women and emphasized that utilization of healthcare services has increased, demonstrating that registered individuals are actively seeking medical care.
Sanwo-Olu also mentioned the success of the Lagos State Health Management Agency’s Assistance in Distress (AID) program, which has reportedly saved 18 lives since its launch in March. The program addresses urgent medical needs arising from incidents such as road traffic crashes and obstetric complications.
In an effort to modernize healthcare delivery, the state is implementing the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform across public health institutions. This digital initiative will enhance access to patient medical records, improve disease surveillance, and support evidence-based health planning. The governor noted ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and digital innovations to bolster healthcare diagnosis and service delivery.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to long-term reforms, Sanwo-Olu stated that initiatives such as Ilera Eko and the digital health platform are designed to benefit the community beyond his tenure. “We have kept our promises, and we are establishing systems that will continue to serve the people long after we have left office,” he added.
