The Lagos State Government has expressed concern over a significant deficit in healthcare personnel, disclosing that the state requires an additional 66,000 medical professionals—33,000 doctors and 33,000 nurses—to adequately cater to the needs of its fast-growing population.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, made this known during a media briefing to commemorate the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.
According to Abayomi, Lagos is currently served by just 7,000 doctors for an estimated population of 30 million, far below the benchmark for effective healthcare service delivery.
To close the gap, he said the government is relying on its newly established University of Medicine and Health (UMH), which is expected to play a key role in training more health professionals.
“UMH will begin producing about 2,500 healthcare workers annually within the next five years, including doctors, laboratory scientists, and other vital medical personnel,” the commissioner explained.
He also pointed out that health insurance coverage in the state remains low, with only 1,252,959 individuals—approximately 4.17 percent of residents—enrolled in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme. Currently, 419 healthcare facilities are participating in the scheme.
Abayomi, however, expressed optimism that the new mandatory health insurance policy would significantly boost funding and improve access to medical care.
Highlighting progress in the health sector, he provided updates on several major infrastructure projects. The 150-bed Massey Street Children’s Specialist Hospital is about 70 percent completed, while the 280-bed General Hospital and Staff Quarters in Iba, Ojo, has reached 75 percent completion. Meanwhile, construction of a Mental Health Institute in Epe is 65 percent done. All three facilities are expected to be ready for commissioning by April 2026.
On public health matters, the commissioner disclosed that 135,224 people in Lagos are currently living with HIV. He said over 100 religious leaders have been enlisted as ambassadors in the fight against the disease. Additionally, free cervical cancer screenings have been conducted for 154,228 women, with 8,613 of them receiving thermal ablation therapy.
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