Nigeria has called for a coordinated global framework to address the growing migration of health professionals and strengthen health systems in developing countries.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 United Kingdom Global Health Summit held at the Royal College of Physicians.
Speaking on the theme “Shaping Tomorrow’s Health, Together,” Salako said the global health system is currently under intense pressure due to pandemics, economic instability, climate change and workforce shortages.
“We are in the era of a system reset, transitioning from fragmented interventions to a unified, data-driven strategy anchored on the principles of One Plan, One Budget and One Conversation,” the Minister said.
Salako noted that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in health systems across the world and demonstrated that even the most advanced nations remain susceptible to global health emergencies.
“The pandemic did not merely test our health systems; it shattered assumptions and revealed that even the wealthiest nations could be brought to their knees,” he stated.
Citing data from the World Health Organisation, the minister said Africa bears more than a quarter of the global disease burden but accounts for less than three per cent of the global health workforce and under one per cent of global health expenditure.
He explained that Nigeria is particularly affected by the global health workforce crisis, noting that the country currently has about four physicians per 10,000 population compared to the recommended minimum of ten physicians per 10,000 people.
Salako also expressed concern over the rising migration of Nigerian health professionals abroad.
“The global health workforce crisis is not a future threat but a present emergency,” he said, adding that thousands of Nigerian doctors and other health workers have relocated to countries such as the United Kingdom in recent years.
While acknowledging that health professionals have the right to seek better opportunities globally, the Minister stressed that the trend represents a significant loss of public investment for countries like Nigeria.
“Every doctor, every nurse and every health worker who leaves Nigeria represents a substantial flight of invested public resources,” he explained.
Salako therefore called for ethical recruitment practices and stronger international cooperation to ensure fairness in the global health workforce system.
“We call for a new compact on health workforce mobility, including structured bilateral agreements, compensation for source countries, joint training programmes and managed migration pathways.”
He further urged increased investment in health financing, research, and innovation to strengthen health systems in developing countries.
“The next pandemic or global health emergency will not respect borders, investing in Africa’s health systems is not merely altruism; it is enlightened self-interest,” the Minister added.
Source: VON – https://von.gov.ng/nigeria-seeks-global-pact-on-health-workforce/
