Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has acknowledged the significant gaps in the state’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly a shortage of hospital beds amounting to 66,288. Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the governor shared this at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Healthcare and Medical Expo in Lagos.
LAGOS HOSPITAL BED DEFICIT
With a population of 24 million, Lagos currently has 28 General Hospitals with a combined capacity of 3,717 beds. When combined with the private sector, Lagos has a total of 38,712 hospital beds. However, based on the World Health Organization’s benchmark of five beds per 1,000 people, Lagos needs 25 times more beds, requiring at least 66 general hospitals to meet this standard.
STAFFING AND INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES
Sanwo-Olu noted that the limited bed stock, along with staffing shortages, reduces the ability of hospitals to manage large patient influxes, which impacts the provision of safe and timely care.
PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT
The governor emphasized that due to limited government resources, innovative funding mechanisms involving private sector investment are necessary to bridge this healthcare infrastructure gap.