FG battles health backlash, says 37,000 workers hired

… Admits brain drain, releases ₦32.9bn for PHCs
By Chioma Obinna

In the faces of mounting criticism over the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, the Federal Government on Friday defended its reform efforts, revealing that more than 37,000 health workers have been recruited across federal health institutions since 2023.

The government also said over 70,000 frontline health workers have been trained nationwide as part of efforts to tackle manpower shortages, strengthen service delivery and respond to growing public concern over the sector.

In press statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and signed by the Assistant Director, Information and Public Relation, Ado Bako, the government admitted that workforce shortages, poor infrastructure, rising treatment costs and the migration of skilled professionals remain major challenges.

“These are real challenges. They are also the very reasons the Federal Government is implementing far-reaching reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s health system,” the ministry stated.

To address the worsening brain drain, government said it has approved Nigeria’s National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, aimed at improving retention, strengthening workforce planning and ensuring ethical recruitment.

At the primary healthcare level, the ministry disclosed that ₦32.9 billion has been released under the revised Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF 2.0, to support more than 8,300 Primary Health Care Centres, with expansion underway to about 13,000 facilities nationwide.

The ministry said the intervention has so far recorded over 80 million patient visits, while more than 21 million vulnerable Nigerians have accessed healthcare through the Vulnerable Groups Health Insurance Fund.

Government also said it is moving to reduce the cost of medicines and improve availability by expanding local pharmaceutical production through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain, PVAC.

“The objective is simple: strengthen local production, improve medicine security and make essential medicines more available and affordable for Nigerians,” the statement added.

It further highlighted investments in maternal and newborn health, emergency preparedness, disease surveillance and digital health systems as part of wider reforms to strengthen the sector.

According to the ministry, 84 per cent of the key performance indicators under the Presidential Health Sector Renewal Compact had been achieved as of the 2025 Joint Annual Review.

While admitting that the health sector still faces enormous pressure, the government insisted that lasting reform should be judged by action and measurable results, not rhetoric.

“Lasting reform is measured not by rhetoric but by sustained action, transparent implementation and measurable results,” the ministry said.

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