One‑Third of Nigerians Require Rehabilitation, but Services Are Still Scarce – MRTB

…unveils nationwide reform plan, pushes rehabilitation into primary healthcare, insurance scheme

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria (MRTB) has highlighted a stark shortfall in rehabilitation services across the country, noting that more than one‑third of Nigerians need such care while access remains severely limited.

During a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Prof. Rufai Yusuf Ahmed, the Board’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, announced a comprehensive national reform agenda. The plan seeks to embed rehabilitation within Nigeria’s healthcare system, expand the workforce, revive rehabilitation centres, and digitise regulatory processes.

Prof. Ahmed said the rising burden of non‑communicable diseases, injuries, conflicts, disasters, and an ageing population has amplified demand for rehabilitation services. He stressed the need for Nigeria to strengthen its response in line with the World Health Organization’s Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative.

“Rehabilitation is no longer a luxury; it is a critical component of healthcare that enables individuals to regain mobility, independence, productivity, and social inclusion after illness, injury, or disability,” he said.

“One‑third of the world’s population has health conditions that can benefit from rehabilitation. Nigeria is not exempt. The need is increasing daily, but the services remain unavailable or inaccessible to many citizens,” he added.

In a potential shift in healthcare delivery, Ahmed revealed that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has approved the integration of rehabilitation services into Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) nationwide. He explained that this move would bring rehabilitation closer to communities, especially underserved rural areas, and reduce patients’ financial burden.

The Board is also collaborating with relevant agencies to develop short‑term and long‑term workforce strategies to address the severe shortage of rehabilitation professionals. With fewer than 8,000 physiotherapists and less than 500 professionals each in occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, prosthetics, and orthotics serving a population of over 200 million, Ahmed described the manpower deficit as a major challenge.

To bridge the gap, community health workers will receive rehabilitation training, and a new curriculum on community rehabilitation is being developed for health technology institutions across the country.

Ahmed further disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of medical rehabilitation programmes in 20 universities across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, a move he said would significantly increase the production and equitable distribution of rehabilitation professionals.

The Board currently accredits 48 institutions offering physiotherapy, oversees more than 60 hospitals for internship training, and monitors over 110 facilities for safe rehabilitation practice.

In another significant development, the MRTB boss announced that rehabilitation services and assistive products are being incorporated into the National Health Insurance framework. Discussions with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) have reached an advanced stage, with work underway to establish pricing structures that would reduce out‑of‑pocket spending for Nigerians requiring rehabilitation services.

“The goal is to make rehabilitation affordable and accessible. No Nigerian should be denied care simply because they cannot pay,” he said.

As part of efforts to modernise healthcare regulation, Ahmed revealed that the Board has completed the digitisation of all its core operations, including registration, licensing, accreditation, inspection, professional examinations, internship management, and standards enforcement. He announced that an upgraded MRTB website, scheduled for launch in August 2026, will allow the public to verify the licensing status of practitioners, check accreditation status of facilities, and report professional misconduct online.

Despite the ongoing reforms, Ahmed lamented the absence of dedicated rehabilitation funding in federal and state budgets, describing it as a major obstacle to the sector’s growth. He argued that rehabilitation remains one of the most underfunded components of healthcare despite its growing importance.

Drawing an analogy, he said rehabilitation services in Nigeria are still in their infancy and require targeted financial support. “Medical rehabilitation is like a baby that needs milk before it can join others to eat rice. Without dedicated funding, the profession and services cannot grow to meet national needs,” he stated.

The Registrar also disclosed that the Board has received and investigated more than 20 complaints against rehabilitation practitioners and facilities through its surveillance volunteer programme. He assured Nigerians that mechanisms are in place to investigate misconduct and enforce professional standards, despite the absence of a governing board.

Ahmed urged governments, healthcare institutions, development partners, and citizens to support ongoing efforts to strengthen rehabilitation services, insisting that improved access would enhance health outcomes, boost productivity, and contribute to national economic development.

“Rehabilitation is about restoring lives, dignity, and opportunities. If we get it right, millions of Nigerians will live healthier, more productive, and more independent lives,” he said.

The MRTB’s latest reforms come as Nigeria intensifies efforts to align with global healthcare standards and fulfil its commitment under the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 framework, a strategy aimed at making rehabilitation an integral part of universal health coverage.

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