Resident doctors in Nigeria enforce 24-hour shift limit

‎The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced on Wednesday that, starting October 1, 2025, resident doctors nationwide will no longer take continuous calls exceeding 24 hours, stressing on the alarming doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:19,083.
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‎Nigeria is facing a severe shortage of doctors, exacerbated by the steady migration of healthcare professionals seeking better pay and working conditions abroad. According to NARD, over 16,000 Nigerian doctors have left in the last five to seven years, leaving healthcare facilities understaffed and overwhelmed.
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‎With an estimated population of over 240 million people, Nigeria currently has only about 11,000 resident doctors. This results in a ratio of approximately one doctor to 9,083 patients, far below global standards.
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‎Resident doctors often endure grueling hours, averaging 106.5 hours weekly, with surgical residents working more than 122 hours per week. This means doctors typically face four to five consecutive days of 24-hour call duties each week.
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‎The excessive workload leads to burnout, increased medical errors, and threatens their mental and physical well-being. Many sacrifice their health, and in some cases, their lives in dedication to patient care.
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‎NARD has urged the Federal Ministry of Health to implement a one-to-one replacement policy to address the shortage and to regulate excessive call hours to protect both doctors and patients. They also called for fair and equitable remuneration to reward the dedication of doctors who remain in Nigeria despite the challenges.
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