A medical expert in Nigeria, Prof. Abdulkadir Tabari has decried the poor medical know-how and a low percentage of professionals that the country produces.

He said that a study by WHO published by Spectator Index on January 13 shows Nigeria produces 0.37 doctors per 1000 people.

“According to MDCN as at 2018, there are about 72,000 nationally registered Nigerian doctors, with only about 35,000 practicing in Nigeria.

“This means there is about 1 doctor to every 5,700 Nigerians. Far below the WHO standard of 1 doctor to 600 people.”

Tabari, who is the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, said the country needs about 290,000 doctors to fill in the deficit to attain the World Health Organisation standard.

He made this known during the 39th annual General meeting and scientific conference of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) on Thursday in Kaduna.

Speaking in line with the theme of the conference ‘Human Resource Challenges of Residency Training: Nigerian situation in the Global mix,’ the veteran doctor pointed out that it was important to strengthen the residency programme in order to bridge the existing huge gap in doctor to patient ratio in the Nigeria.