Workload, stress threaten doctors’ hearts —Adebiyi

Chronic stress, excessive workloads, and staff shortages are putting Nigerian doctors at risk of burnout and cardiovascular disease, Professor Adewole Adebiyi, a cardiologist and Head of the Department of Medicine at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has warned.

Adebiyi gave the warning while delivering the keynote address, “Saving the Savers: Promoting Physicians’ Wellbeing and Preventing Burnout, Cardiovascular Disease, and Premature Death,” at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Branch, 2026 Physicians’ Week.

He identified long working hours, inadequate staffing, limited resources, and rising patient loads as major sources of physical and psychological strain among medical practitioners.

According to him, burnout manifests as emotional exhaustion, cynicism or detachment from patients, and a diminished sense of professional accomplishment.

He attributed the pressure on doctors partly to the migration of healthcare professionals abroad, popularly known as “Japa”, which has worsened staffing shortages and increased the workload of those who remain.

He also blamed weaknesses in secondary healthcare delivery for overcrowding at tertiary hospitals, noting that inadequate services at lower levels of care push more patients towards already overstretched facilities.

Adebiyi warned that prolonged stress, particularly when combined with inadequate sleep, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diets, could undermine cardiovascular health.

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He urged doctors to prioritise adequate rest, regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and routine health checks, while calling on government and healthcare institutions to improve staffing, working conditions, and access to essential resources.

He stressed that physician wellbeing should not be left to individual effort alone, insisting that sustainable improvements require institutional reforms that reduce excessive workloads and provide a healthier working environment.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Chairman of the Governing Board of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, described physicians’ wellbeing as fundamental to effective healthcare delivery.

He noted that excessive workloads, chronic stress, and inadequate institutional support threaten not only doctors’ health but also patient safety and hospital performance.

Drawing on his experience in international development and years of working abroad, he encouraged Nigerian medical professionals to contribute to building stronger healthcare institutions at home.

While acknowledging doctors’ right to seek better opportunities abroad, he emphasised dedication, perseverance, compassion, and empathy as essential to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.

He urged doctors to seek medical attention when necessary, stressing that asking for help should be regarded as responsible behaviour rather than a sign of weakness.

Oyelaran-Oyeyinka called on government, hospital administrators, and professional associations to translate concerns about doctors’ wellbeing into practical measures, including adequate staffing, reasonable duty schedules, supportive leadership, confidential access to healthcare, and cardiovascular risk screening.

He also advocated monitoring workforce wellbeing, listening to frontline professionals, and establishing clear accountability mechanisms to measure progress.

Investing in healthcare workers’ health, he said, would improve continuity of service, quality of care, and public confidence in the health system.

In his remarks, Dr Olufemi Aworinde, Chairman of the NMA, Oyo State Branch, expressed concern about the pressures confronting doctors, including long working hours, staff shortages, and occupational stress.

He also raised concerns about non-communicable diseases and preventable premature deaths among medical practitioners.

Aworinde observed that doctors sometimes neglect their own health despite advising patients to undergo regular screening, adopt healthier lifestyles, and seek timely medical care.

He urged physicians to abandon the belief that self-neglect demonstrates professional dedication, stressing that recognising personal health risks and seeking support are essential to protecting their wellbeing.