Kano Has 570 Doctors Serving Over 20 Million Residents — Medical Association

 The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Kano State branch, says about 570 doctors are currently serving more than 20 million people in government-owned hospitals across the state.

An affiliate of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the group highlighted that this shortage puts extreme pressure on doctors and hampers hospital’s ability to deliver adequate care, especially in rural areas.

NAGGMDP Kano Chairman Naziru Nuhu revealed this during their Ordinary General Meeting themed: Good Documentation Practices/Hygiene in Hospital Setting.

He noted that the doctor - to - patient ratio is roughly one to 12000, far above the WHO recommended ratio of one to 600 - 1000.

Nuhu described this as “deeply troubling,” indicating it strains healthcare workers and increases preventable death risks, mainly in underserved rural communities.

The group urged the Kano State Government to urgently recruit more doctors to fill vacancies created by resignations and retirements.

They also demanded payment of unpaid salaries and allowances, including Teaching, Rural, Accoutrement, and Specialist Allowances.

Furthermore, doctors raised concerns over the delay in disbursing the 2026 Medical Residency Training Fund and called for the Medical Residency Training Committee to meet and address related challenges.

The association recommended implementing the revised 2024 - approved Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and settling outstanding arrears.

Additionally, they called for modern medical equipment and better working conditions in public hospitals to ease staff workload and improve patient care.

Another pressing issue was the rising cases of assault, harassment, and intimidation against healthcare workers, attributed to manpower shortages, inadequate bed spaces, poor equipment, and heavy workloads. This was exemplified by a recent incident at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano.

The group urged hospital management and stakeholders to enhance security measures to protect medical staff, emphasizing that their safety and dignity are non - negotiable.

The doctors also appealed to the Kano Government to adopt and implement the federal policy on working hours and locum staffing to reduce burnout and ensure fair compensation for extra duties.

They stated that they submitted a detailed report on salary irregularities to relevant authorities for review and action in line with the revised CONMESS.

Lastly, the association warned the government to address all issues - including salary gaps, unpaid allowances, and residency funds- within two weeks, or risk a strike.