50% of private hospitals have shut down due to hardship – Doctors guild’s president

The Guild of Medical Directors (GMD) has sounded the alarm over the growing financial strain on Nigeria’s private healthcare sector, revealing that more than 50% of private hospitals have shut down, with those remaining barely staying afloat.

President of the GMD, Dr. Raymond Kuti, explained in an interview that many hospitals are struggling to manage soaring costs of essentials like electricity and medical supplies, leaving them on the brink of closure.

“Averagely, three out of six private hospitals are shutting down every month in Nigeria, primarily due to the challenging economic environment,” Dr. Kuti said. He highlighted that operational costs, particularly for energy and imported medical consumables, have skyrocketed by up to 500%, significantly impacting Band A hospitals.

Dr. Kuti, also the Chief Medical Director at Prisms Health Care Limited, told Punch that declining patient patronage and the “japa” trend—where young healthcare professionals emigrate in search of better opportunities—have intensified the crisis. This has led to severe staffing shortages and forced many people to delay seeking medical care, often opting for self-medication or local remedies due to financial constraints.

Calling for urgent intervention, Dr. Kuti emphasized the critical need for government support to sustain private hospitals. “We need the government to recognise the challenges we face and provide the necessary support to ensure that private hospitals can continue to operate and serve the community,” he urged, stressing the vital role these facilities play in Nigeria’s healthcare system.