A Professor of Public Health, Akin Osibogun, has recommended an average monthly salary of N2.5 million for every consultant anesthetist to retain them within Nigeria’s health system.
Osibogun made the recommendation on Wednesday during the Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists (NSA) Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting in Lagos, organized in collaboration with the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists. The event had the theme, “Health Emergencies: The Role of the Anaesthetist.”
A former Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Osibogun stressed that the intensity and duration of anaesthetists’ training necessitated urgent investment in specialist training and favourable retention mechanisms.
“Anaesthetists are highly trained specialists who can only be produced intentionally,” he said, noting a global shortage of anaesthetists.
Citing 2022 NSA data, Osibogun said Nigeria has only 800 anaesthetists to serve a population exceeding 250 million, giving a ratio of one anaesthetist to 312,000 people—far below the WHO-recommended 1:3,000 ratio.
He explained that anesthesiology involves managing anaesthesia and pain before, during, and after medical procedures, as well as providing care in intensive care units, chronic pain management, and pain relief during childbirth.
“An anaesthesiologist performs a critical role in resuscitation, stabilizing and packaging injured or medically challenged patients,” Osibogun said. “It is their responsibility to identify the drugs, consumables, and equipment required to save lives and limit disability.”
Prof. Alhassan Mohammed, President of NSA, highlighted acute shortages of manpower and infrastructure as major challenges. He urged the government to improve remuneration and equip hospitals to retain specialists and curb brain drain.
“The last time this was done effectively was during the Obasanjo administration, which enhanced training and access to quality surgical care. Retention depends on good remuneration; without it, professionals will leave,” Mohammed said.
He noted that many anaesthetists practicing abroad would return if adequate pay and infrastructure were provided. He also explained that the event’s theme aimed to develop strategies to handle the rising number of medical emergencies, including sudden collapses in public gatherings.
Earlier, Dr. Claudiana Sanwo-Olu, Wife of the Lagos State Governor, represented by Mrs. Waidat Mustafa, Wife of the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, said the conference aligns with the state government’s commitment to quality healthcare.
She reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ensuring that healthcare workers are well remunerated, adequately trained, and retrained to adapt to evolving medical realities.
