Nigeria Faces Endocrinologist Shortage As Diabetes Burden Rises By Archibong Esuene

Nigeria’s growing burden of endocrine and metabolic diseases is being compounded by a shortage of specialists and limited access to specialised diagnostic services, experts have said.

The experts spoke in Abuja during the 47th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (EMSON), which ended on Friday.

The three-day conference, held from September 23 to 25, had the theme, "Endocrine Practice in Nigeria: Improving Patient Care and Outcomes Through Advocacy."

Keynote speaker at the conference, Prof. Anas Sabir, said Nigeria had fewer than 200 practising endocrinologists, despite an estimated 10 million to 15 million Nigerians living with diabetes.

Sabir said the shortage of specialists was affecting the country’s capacity to provide timely and comprehensive care for patients with diabetes and other endocrine disorders.

He identified late presentation and the high cost of treatment as some of the major challenges confronting diabetes management, noting that many patients still bear the cost of treatment from their personal resources.

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Most patients pay out of pocket," Sabir said, adding that the level of coverage provided through the National Health Insurance Authority was not sufficient to meet all patients’ needs.

He explained that endocrine disorders often occur alongside other conditions, including hypertension, dyslipidaemia and obesity, making proper diagnosis and coordinated specialist care important in managing affected patients.

The specialist shortage was also highlighted by the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Prof. Saad Ahmed, who was represented at the conference by Dr Ben Achusin.

Ahmed said the hospital currently had only two endocrinologists attending to between 40 and 60 patients during each clinic session.

According to him, the hospital previously had four endocrinologists, but two had migrated to the United States, leaving the remaining specialists with an increased workload and contributing to longer waiting periods for patients.

He called for deliberate efforts to encourage medical students and young doctors to specialise in endocrinology, stressing the need to expand the country’s specialist workforce.

Ahmed also drew attention to gaps in access to specialised investigations, saying some hormonal, biochemical and molecular tests were still being sent outside the country.

He said delays in obtaining such test results could affect the speed with which patients were diagnosed and commenced on appropriate treatment.

President of EMSON, Prof. Andrew Uloko, said the society was concerned about the increasing burden of endocrine diseases and the barriers confronting patients seeking care.

Uloko said diabetes alone affected between six and seven per cent of Nigerians, translating to about 15 million people, while many others remained undiagnosed.

The president attributed the changing pattern of endocrine diseases to factors including population growth, ageing, urbanisation, changing dietary habits and physical inactivity.

He added that poverty, food insecurity and infectious diseases were further complicating efforts to provide adequate care for people living with endocrine and metabolic conditions.

Uloko said the impact of diabetes extended beyond the health sector because the condition could affect patients’ education, employment, family finances and quality of life.

He said EMSON would continue to advocate affordable endocrine care, stronger collaboration among stakeholders and policies based on evidence, while also creating opportunities for younger endocrinologists.

The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, FCT Administration, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, called for stronger advocacy and improved access to healthcare services.

Fasawe said the FCT had exceeded its Project 10 Million screening target in 2024 and continued to conduct blood glucose and blood pressure screening through medical outreaches.

She also said the FCT Administration secured accreditation for Internal Medicine Residency Training in 2023, while the restructuring of the FCT Primary Health Care Board in 2026 had strengthened disease prevention and surveillance.

The conference also examined emerging treatment options for diabetes and obesity, the translation of basic endocrine science into improved patient care, early detection and management of paediatric endocrine disorders, and lifestyle medicine in the management of metabolic diseases.

Endocrine disorders are conditions involving the body’s hormonal system, with endocrinologists specialising in the diagnosis and management of diseases affecting hormone-producing glands and related metabolic functions, according to experts.

EMSON is the professional body responsible for the advancement of endocrinology and metabolism practice in Nigeria.