Japa Syndrome: Ondo Has Only 400 Medical Doctors Left In Service – NMA

By Ayodele Oni

Chairman, Ondo chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Roland Arohunmolase, has revealed that Japa syndrome has taken its toll on the state medicare as about 400 doctors have migrated abroad in the last five years.

According to him, there are about 500 doctors left in public health institutions across the state.

Arohunmolase disclosed this in Akure during activities marking the 2026 Physicians’ Week, themed “Securing the Future of Medicine in Nigeria”.

Speaking on behalf of Afekhide Omoti, NMA national president, Arohunmolase said the shortage has increased the workload on remaining doctors and raised concerns about the quality of healthcare available to residents.

“As of today, we barely have 500 doctors across state and federal government health establishments in Ondo state, excluding the private sector. Based on the records available to me, we have about 500 doctor.”

He stated that the number of doctors in the state’s healthcare system previously stood at about between 900 to 1,000, but approximately 400 had since left.

Arohunmolase appealed to the state government to introduce measures to attract and retain medical professionals, including better remuneration and improved working conditions.

He was of the view tgat such efforts would help reduce burnout among doctors and other healthcare workers who have to cope with the demands of an understaffed health system.

Arohunmolase also linked medical tourism among wealthy Nigerians to inadequate infrastructure and shortages of essential equipment in the country’s hospitals.

“I believe they go abroad because they themselves know the inadequacies that exist within our system,” he said, arguing that the failure to provide essential equipment and modern medical technology had undermined public confidence in local healthcare services.

“The challenge is not necessarily the competence of our doctors, but the inadequacies within the healthcare system.

“These shortcomings undermine public confidence and encourage people, particularly politicians, to continue seeking medical treatment overseas.”

Arohunmolase also called for increased government investment in healthcare.

He noted that increased funding was necessary to improve hospital infrastructure, provide essential equipment, strengthen working conditions and offer competitive remuneration to medical professionals.