In a recent report, Saturday PUNCH revealed that a record-breaking 3,173 Nigerian-trained nurses and midwives were licensed to practice in the United Kingdom within a year. This data, covering the period from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, highlights a growing trend of Nigerian professionals joining the UK’s healthcare system.
Key Statistics and Observations
As of March 31, 2024, 13,656 nurses and midwives educated in Nigeria are now practicing in the UK. The total number of nursing and midwifery professionals registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has reached 826,418. The report shows that Nigerian professionals represent a significant portion of this workforce, with a remarkable 28.3% increase in new registrations from Nigeria over the past year.
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Leading Countries for Nursing and Midwifery Education
As of March 2024, the top non-UK countries providing nursing and midwifery education include:
- India – 62,413
- Philippines – 49,092
- Romania – 7,378
- Ghana – 5,536
Global Health Workforce Challenges
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Nigeria and 54 other countries as facing significant challenges related to health workforce shortages. The impact of COVID-19 and disruptions to health services have led many health workers from these countries to seek better opportunities in wealthier nations.
UK Recruitment Policies and Trends
On March 23, the UK government placed Nigeria and 53 other countries on a red list, advising against active recruitment from these regions for health and social care roles. Despite this, the NMC report shows that nearly 60,000 new nursing and midwifery professionals joined the UK register this year. Notably, the number of international professionals increased by more than 18%, with 14,615 of these new joiners coming from India.
Impact on Nigeria’s Healthcare System
The departure of Nigerian nurses and midwives has intensified the already critical shortage of healthcare workers in the country. According to the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, over 75,000 healthcare professionals have left Nigeria in the past five years. This exodus has significantly impacted the country’s healthcare delivery system, limiting access to care for many people.
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