Survey of Clinical Engineering Workforce Composition and Competency at Federal Tertiary Hospitals in South West Nigeria

The clinical engineering workforce is the primary institutional resource for medical equipment management in Nigerian tertiary hospitals, and its composition, qualification profile, and competency gaps directly affect equipment availability and patient safety. This study surveys the clinical engineering workforce at five federal tertiary hospitals in South West Nigeria, covering institutions in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti states. Data were collected through structured interviews with heads of clinical engineering departments, biomedical technologists, and hospital administrators, supplemented by review of staff qualification records. The survey instrument assessed staff numbers, qualification levels, specialization areas, in-service training history, and self-assessed competency in key clinical engineering domains including preventive maintenance, equipment testing, procurement advisory, and digital health technology. The five hospitals collectively employed forty-two biomedical engineering staff. Staff-to-bed ratios ranged from 1:48 to 1:112 against the WHO recommended ratio of approximately 1:50. Graduate biomedical engineering degree holders constituted only 28 percent of the clinical engineering workforce, with the majority holding biomedical equipment technology certificates. In-service training participation within the past two years was reported by 64 percent of staff. Self-assessed competency in digital health technology, cybersecurity for medical devices, and health technology assessment was rated as inadequate or minimal by over 70 percent of respondents. The study identifies significant workforce capacity gaps and recommends a federal clinical engineering workforce development programme and structured continuing professional development. Keywords: clinical engineering workforce, competency assessment, federal tertiary hospitals, South West Nigeria, biomedical technology.