Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that the state’s healthcare system requires about 40,000 additional doctors and 40,000 more nurses to adequately meet the demands of its growing population, while also revealing a funding shortfall of at least N100 billion in the sector.
Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure on Thursday during the opening of the second Eko Health Convention held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where he identified inadequate medical personnel and limited funding as major challenges affecting healthcare delivery in the state.
The governor also announced that over 1.5 million residents have enrolled in the state’s health insurance scheme, Ilera Eko, as part of efforts to expand access to affordable and sustainable healthcare services.
Speaking on the shortage of healthcare workers, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos currently has far fewer doctors than required to serve its population.
“Lagos needs about 40,000 doctors to properly serve its population, but we currently have about 7,000. We also require approximately 40,000 more nurses. That means every doctor presently practising in Lagos is effectively doing the work of about 10 doctors,” the governor said.
He explained that the situation has placed additional pressure on existing medical personnel, while stressing the need for urgent interventions to bridge the manpower gap.
On healthcare financing, the governor said current budgetary allocations remain insufficient to meet the actual needs of the state’s health system.
“The second challenge is funding. There is a minimum shortfall of N100 billion between what our health budget currently provides and what the system actually requires.
“Donor funding, which sustained many disease control programmes for nearly two decades, is shrinking significantly and is unlikely to return in the same form,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu said the state had begun implementing measures to address the shortage of healthcare workers through large-scale recruitment, improved welfare packages and plans to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences.
He disclosed that recruitment had commenced across all 29 secondary healthcare facilities in Lagos, while the government was also providing accommodation and improved working conditions to retain healthcare professionals and encourage those outside the country to return.
On health insurance coverage, the governor said the domestication of the National Health Insurance Authority Act and implementation of the state’s mandatory social health insurance policy had expanded access to healthcare through the Ilera Eko scheme.
He disclosed that 1,502,994 residents had enrolled in the programme as of the end of May, with women making up more than half of the beneficiaries.
Sanwo-Olu said the increased utilisation of healthcare services under the scheme showed that residents were actively accessing medical care rather than merely registering.
The governor also highlighted the impact of the Lagos State Health Management Agency’s Assistance in Distress (AID) programme, revealing that the initiative had saved 18 lives since it commenced operations in March.
According to him, the programme has supported victims of road traffic crashes, surgical emergencies, obstetric complications and stroke cases by providing immediate access to treatment regardless of their financial situation.
Sanwo-Olu further revealed that Lagos was using technology to transform healthcare delivery through the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform, which is being implemented across public health institutions.
He explained that the digital platform would provide seamless access to patients’ medical records across facilities, improve disease surveillance and support evidence-based health planning.
The governor added that the state was investing in artificial intelligence and other digital innovations to enhance diagnosis, medical imaging and healthcare service delivery.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sustainable healthcare reforms, Sanwo-Olu said initiatives such as Ilera Eko, the health district system and the digital health platform were designed to continue serving residents beyond his tenure.
“We have kept our promises. Now we are building systems that will continue to serve the people long after we have left office,” he said.
