This article discusses how much it would cost to study neurosurgery in Nigeria currently in this year 2023. Neurosurgery focuses on the identification and management of problems of the nervous system. It is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of patients who have diseases, injuries, or problems with their brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves or spinal column. Adult and paediatric patients are both covered by the specialty of neurosurgical treatment. A neurological surgeon might offer surgical and/or non-surgical care depending on the type of injury or disease.
Medical doctors that specialize in neurosurgery are called neurosurgeons. Many people confine them to being only brain surgeons, but they are much more than that. Neurosurgeons are medically qualified to assist patients with a variety of ailments, from head injuries to Parkinson’s disease, as well as back and neck problems. All facets of neurosurgery, including the cerebrovascular system, the spine and spinal cord, trauma, tumours, pain management, and pediatric (child) surgery, are included in neurosurgeon training.
Neurosurgeons offer both surgical and non-surgical management of neurological illnesses, including their prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and rehabilitation. Emergency room physicians, neurologists, internists, family practitioners, and osteopathic physicians frequently consult with neurosurgeons because of their broad training in the diagnosis of all neurological diseases.
IS NEUROSURGERY OFFERED IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES?
Although not at the bachelor’s level, neurosurgery is definitely studied in Nigeria. Neurosurgery as a first degree programme is not offered at any university in Nigeria. Postgraduate training is required for neurosurgery. You must first receive certification as a medical practitioner from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before you can continue with the program.
Before enrolling for a residency programme in neurosurgery in Nigeria today, you are required to take and pass a sort of medical exam called as “Primaries”. To become a specialist, consultant, or professional in neurosurgery in Nigeria today, an additional six – seven years of education are needed. Furthermore, the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), rather than the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) is in charge of regulating neurosurgery in the country.
A neurosurgeon must complete about fifteen years of training in Nigeria, including six years of medical school, one year of doctor’s housemanship, one year of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and seven years of residency training at one of the federal medical centres or certified teaching hospitals in the country.
LIST OF UNIVERSITIES THAT OFFER NEUROSURGERY IN NIGERIA 2023
The accredited university teaching hospitals in Nigeria that currently provide training for medical doctors to become neurosurgeons are listed below:
- Usmanu Danfodiyyo Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Sokoto State
- University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State
- University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
- Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna
- University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.
- Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ife, Osun State.
- Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State.
- University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, Rivers State (UPTH has partial accreditation)
- Memfys Hospital for Neurosugery, Enugu – Currently the only private hospital in Nigeria that has been given full accreditation by the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) for residency training.
- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano.
CURRENT COST OF STUDYING NEUROSURGERY IN NIGERIA 2023
It takes the right training to become a neurosurgeon in Nigeria today. Neurosurgeons are highly sort after for their expertise in handling issues related to the nervous system and because their profession requires the utmost attention to details and specifics, their training costs are therefore expensive.
On the average, it costs an estimated ₦2 million to study neurosurgery in Nigeria this 2023. Factors such as the location of study as well as the exact hospital on chooses to master this medical practice come to play in the final pricing of neurosurgery study in Nigeria. Kindly bear in mind that this is an estimate and depending on your location, the cost of studying neurosurgery in Nigeria may be more or less.
NEUROSURGERY SALARY STRUCTURE IN NIGERIA 2023
Neurosurgeons are among the best paid medical doctors in Nigeria today. Some sources say that they are in fact the highest paid in the medical profession in Nigeria due to their rare skill and limited number. Report has it that there are only 97 neurosurgeons in Nigeria today and this means that the pay for their expertise must be really handsome.
On the average, experienced neurosurgeons are paid salaries in the region between ₦700,000 – ₦800,000 per month which amounts to the sum of ₦8.4 million – ₦9.6 million per year. One very important factor to consider in the payment structure of neurosurgeons in Nigeria is the type of hospital they work at. Neurosurgeons in government hospitals earn way higher than their counterparts in the private sector.
