Lagos faces 66,000 bed shortage, struggling to meet WHO standards – Sanwo-Olu

…Calls for innovative solutions to bridge healthcare gap

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has revealed that the state is grappling with a staggering deficit of 66,000 hospital beds, significantly below the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This alarming admission was made during the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Healthcare and Medical Expo held in Lagos.

Represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Sanwo-Olu emphasised that with a population of approximately 24 million residents, Lagos operates only 28 general hospitals with a total capacity of just 3,717 beds.

The combined total, including private facilities, stands at 38,712 beds—far below the WHO benchmark of five beds per 1,000 people, which would require the state to have around 193,000 beds.

“To close this gap, Lagos needs at least 66 new general hospitals,” Sanwo-Olu stated, acknowledging the need for innovative funding mechanisms to attract private sector investment, given the government’s limited resources.

Sanwo-Olu further highlighted the consequences of the inadequate bed capacity, noting that staffing shortages and insufficient facilities impede hospitals’ ability to provide safe and timely care, impacting patient behaviour and health-seeking actions.

“This ultimately affects our healthcare delivery system,” he remarked.

The Governor outlined a vision to transform Lagos’s healthcare infrastructure by enhancing the quality of health facilities and stimulating private sector engagement.

“We are committed to making healthcare attractive for investors, which will help reverse brain drain and reduce medical tourism,” he asserted.

In support of this initiative, Prof. Bala Audu, President of the NMA, urged both federal and state governments to implement existing health policies to improve the retention of healthcare professionals.

He emphasised that effective policy implementation could significantly enhance the quality of care provided to citizens.

Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the expo, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, added that many specialised hospitals within Nigeria are capable of handling complex medical cases, which could further reduce the trend of medical tourism.

“We have hospitals performing advanced procedures that could rival those abroad,” he said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s commitment to achieving universal healthcare coverage and establishing Lagos as a premier destination for medical tourism in Africa, aiming to align the state’s health services with international standards.