Patients across public hospitals in Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti states faced severe healthcare disruptions due to staff shortages and a lack of essential drugs. Patients reported being required to purchase medications from outside pharmacies at high cost, describing the situation as a major crisis leading to non-adherence, worsened health conditions, and fatalities.
A medical practitioner, Dr Ayorinde Adewale, identified the acute shortage of health professionals in general hospitals as a major challenge, noting that many specialist doctors including neurosurgeons, cardiologists, and oncologists had left the country due to poor remuneration. The doctor-to-patient ratio was reported at approximately 30 to one.
The Chief Medical Director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex called for improved funding to address infrastructural and operational challenges, citing the "Japa" syndrome and industrial disputes as factors affecting service delivery. The Ekiti State Hospital Management Board chairman said the state government had begun construction of three new general hospitals and was recruiting about 100 doctors in batches.