Abstract
This study investigates the effect of medical personnel migration on healthcare service delivery in Edo State, Nigeria, between 2010 and 2024. Guided by the Push-Pull theory, the study sought to determine the implications of migration on patient waiting times, examine the role of poor salaries and wages as drivers of migration, and assess the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s proposed five-year license withholding policy. Using a descriptive research design, data were obtained through structured questionnaires administered to doctors and nurses. Findings revealed that migration has significantly disrupted healthcare service delivery, with over 70% of respondents confirming longer patient waiting times, increased workloads, and declining service quality. Poor remuneration, weak infrastructure, and better opportunities abroad emerged as key determinants of migration, while government interventions such as the five-year license withholding policy were considered ineffective and counterproductive. The study concludes that persistent medical personnel migration critically undermines healthcare delivery in Edo State and recommends urgent reforms, including competitive salaries, improved working conditions, and structured career growth opportunities, as sustainable strategies for retention and system strengthening.