Types of Medical Doctors in Nigeria & Salaries
Doctors are known to treat illnesses and can save lives and are an important part of the Nigerian healthcare system. They are essential medical practitioners who specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of a wide variety of illnesses that affect both individuals and the general public. In this post, we will explore the different kinds of doctors we have in Nigeria and their salaries. Read on to learn more!
ALL TYPES OF DOCTORS IN NIGERIA & SALARIES
Below are the different types of doctors in Nigeria, responsibilities and their salaries.
CARDIOLOGIST
A cardiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart conditions. These specialists are trained to identify and treat heart diseases, perform cardiac catheterizations, and prescribe medications. They may also provide guidance on lifestyle changes that can improve heart health. Cardiologists are medical experts in cardiovascular system problems (heart and blood vessels). Adults with cardiovascular disorders are diagnosed medically and treated by cardiologists.
Cardiologists do not specialize in surgical treatments for the cardiovascular system, but with additional training, they are capable of carrying out minimally invasive operations such pacemaker implantation and cardiac catheterization. The salary of a cardiologists in a Nigerian hospital is between ₦582,000 to ₦1,960,000 NGN. This monthly salary also includes allowances like housing, transport, and others.
DENTIST
A dentist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental conditions and diseases. They are trained to identify and treat dental problems, perform dental procedures, and prescribe medications. Dentists may also provide guidance on oral hygiene and nutrition. Dentists may treat conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer
Dentists are medical practitioners with dental training and are also paid well just like in many other medical field. A dentist working in a hospital earns about ₦300,000 monthly on average. Although, experience is also another factors when determining a dentist salary in Nigeria.
ENT PHYSICIAN
An ENT physician, also known as an otolaryngologist, is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of problems of the Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT). These specialists are trained to identify and treat conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, and neck. They may also perform surgery on the ear, nose, and throat. ENT physicians may treat conditions such as hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus, sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, and pharyngitis.
Functional disorders that impair patients’ senses and their capacity to carry out daily tasks including eating, speaking, drinking, breathing, and swallowing are treated by ENT doctors. Additionally, they address benign tumors and head and neck cancer surgically and repair affected areas. An ENT doctor salary in Nigeria is estimated to be around ₦450,000 to ₦900,000 due to the kind of task they carry out in the medical field. Years of experience is also a factor that determines what this type of doctor earns also.
AUDIOLOGIST
An audiologist is a healthcare professional whose primary focus is on identifying, diagnosing, managing and preventing hearing and balance disorders in adults and children. Audiologists use a variety of tests and procedures to assess hearing and balance function and to make recommendations for treatment. These may include hearing tests, Balance disorder testing, Otoacoustic emission testing, Tympanometry/ Acoustic
Audiologists have received training in recognizing, diagnosing, treating, and keeping an eye on conditions affecting the auditory and vestibular systems of the body. They are in charge of distributing, monitoring, and rehabbing hearing aids as well as planning bone conduction and hearing implants for qualified patients.
While Audiologists also assist adults who have lost their hearing later in life in learning coping and compensatory skills, they are one of the lowest paid jobs in the medical industry. A speech therapist or an Audiologist earns over ₦200,000 to ₦350,000 monthly as salary. This figure is based on the type of health institution one is employed within.
GYNAECOLOGIST
Gynecologists are medical professionals who specialize in treating conditions affecting the female reproductive system, including the fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, vagina, and vulva. They are skilled in administering both medical and surgical treatments to address a variety of issues, including heavy menstrual periods, infertility, cancer of the reproductive organs, post-menopausal osteoporosis, and other vaginal illnesses. Gynecologists frequently remove uterine material for a variety of reasons and undertake surgical treatments for urine incontinence.
In Nigeria today, there is a high demand for Gynaecologists doctors due to fertility issues. A typical Gynaecologist working in a government hospital earns over ₦300,000 as starting salary including other benefits and allowances. The same can’t be said for those in private hospitals.
PEDIATRICIAN
Pediatricians are medical practitioners with specialized training in treating newborns, kids, teens, and young adults. Pediatricians evaluate the physiological differences between children and adults while evaluating symptoms, giving drugs, and conducting illness diagnosis.
Pediatrician salary in Nigeria is estimated at ₦350,000 to ₦550,000 depending on the health organization.
ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON
Orthopaedic surgeons are experts in employing both surgical and non-surgical methods to address disorders involving the musculoskeletal system. Patients with spine conditions, sports injuries, infectious tumors, and musculoskeletal trauma are just a few of the conditions that these kinds of surgeons address.
Orthopaedic surgeons can specialize in a variety of medical specialties, including injuries to the orthopaedic joints, total joint reconstruction, surgery on the hips, knees, and feet, and surgery on the upper and lower extremities, shoulders, and elbows. Salary of Orthopaedic doctors are normally on the high side as they earn over ₦700,000 to ₦850,000 due to the nature of surgeries they perform.
NEUROSURGEON
Neurosurgeons are the highest paid medical specialty in Nigeria, earning over a million or more in salary per month. They are specialists in the diagnosis and surgical care of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Stroke, vascular issues, tumors, congenital abnormalities, trauma, and degenerative illnesses of the spine are just a few of the conditions that neurosurgeons frequently treat.
NEUROLOGIST
Neurologists are doctors who specialize in treating nervous system problems. They are educated in the investigation, diagnosis, and management of all kinds of disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Neurologists frequently treat neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, stroke, dementia, seizures, and movement abnormalities.
Neurologists are also paid well in the medical field. A typical Neurologist, earns an average of ₦500,000 to ₦700,000 as salary per month in a hospital or health institution. Years of experience and level of expertise also counts in factoring how much a Neurologist earns as salary in Nigeria.
PSYCHIATRIST
Doctors that specialize in psychiatry are known as psychiatrists. They identify, prevent, research, and manage mental health issues. In order to determine whether a patient’s symptoms are brought on by a medical sickness, a mental problem, or a combination of the two, psychiatrists analyze patients with mental disorders.
Another type of medical practitioner that earns little when compared to the rest as Psychiatrists. In Nigeria, they are high in demand as many cases of mental issues are springing up in numbers. They earn over ₦250,000 to ₦400,000 per month, making Nigerian psychiatrists one of the lowest paying medical jobs to do in the country.
RADIOLOGIST
Doctors who specialize in using medical imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries on the inside and outside of the body are known as radiologists. Radiologists utilize X-rays, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fusion imaging, among other image-guided therapeutic procedures. When necessary, they may also make referrals to other medical professionals for the right tests or treatments.
The salary of a Radiologist in Nigeria per month is about ₦200,000 to ₦350,000. They are normally underpaid and are seen as one of the lowest paid medical jobs in Nigeria to do.
ENDOCRINOLOGIST
The specialists in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses of the endocrine system are known as endocrinologists. Endocrinologists are experts in treating conditions involving the thyroid, ovaries, pancreas, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland. Diabetes and thyroid disorders are two frequent conditions that endocrinologists are trained to identify and manage.
PULMONOLOGIST
Physicians known as pulmonologists are experts in identifying and treating lung problems brought on by infection, tissue development, and inflammation. Asthma, aspergillosis, sleep disorders, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, obstructive pulmonary disease (opd), TB, and others are among the main lung disorders that pulmonologists treat.
ONCOLOGIST
Oncologists are physicians who focus on identifying and treating cancer. They manage the post-treatment care of cancer patients as well as the therapy procedure itself. They also earn good salary figures as well as allowances. In Nigeria, an oncologist earns over ₦650,000 to ₦900,000 per month. These figures also depends on the type of hospital/years of experience of such doctor(s) in question.
CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEON
Surgeons who specialize in working on the heart and other chest organs are called cardiothoracic surgeons. The surgical treatments that cardiothoracic surgeons are licensed to do include chest wall abnormalities surgery, coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic surgical procedures, heart valve surgery, keyhole thoracic surgery, and surgical procedures on collapsed lungs.
PUBLIC HEALTH PHYSICIAN
Medical professionals who specialize in providing medical care to large areas or populations of people are known as public health physicians. The following duties are typically carried out by public health doctors: communicable disease control, project delivery, disease detection and prevention.
FAMILY HEALTH PHYSICIAN
Family doctors concentrate on providing ongoing comprehensive healthcare to the general public. No matter their age, gender, or condition, anyone seeking medical treatment in a hospital would typically first consult a family doctor. A wide range of medical services, such as diagnosis, preventative care, health risk assessment, regular checks, and other medical procedures, are provided by family health professionals in the primary care system. Additionally, when necessary, they refer patients to other medical professionals.
