Following a recent brain drain, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) claims that only 24, 000 currently licensed physicians are still practicing in the country.
In a policy dialogue on Nigeria’s health sector brain drain and its implications for sustainable child and family health service delivery, NMA President Ojinmah Uche said that 24,000 currently licensed doctors are caring for Nigeria’s more than 200 million people.
Ojinmah noted that based on the World Health Organisation established minimum threshold, a country needs a mix of 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10,000 population to deliver essential maternal and child health services.
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He further blamed the brain drain on poor funding of the health sector, stressful medical education, non-existent house job slots, difficulty in gaining employment, poor remuneration, unnecessary and unhealthy inter-professional rivalry, insecurity, among others.
In his reaction, veteran journalist Babajide Otitoju on Saturday’s edition of Journalists’ Hangout said there is a lot the federal and state governments can do about the mass exodus of medical personnel.
According to him, the country needs to produce more doctors and fund medical colleges.
“India has 179 medical schools, and every year the average intake of students entering for the MBBS is 67,000 which has helped them to meet that W.H.O ratio of doctor to the population.
“We can get there, if we work hard.
“More medical centers and medical schools must be built in order to continue producing enough to care for our population while also doing our best to keep the ones who are already here.”
Mr Otitoju emphasised the need for incentives and quality tools to be provided for medical doctors to work in the hinterland in the rural areas.
“Providing medical doctors with the right and quality tools will encourage a good number of them to stay”.
Further addressing the mass exodus by Doctors, Theophilus Abbah, a former managing editor for Daily Trust said as a medical personnel, he lacks access to facilities.
According to him, career progression is very important and vital so one does not become stagnated with old ways as the profession is constantly evolving.
Mr Abbah said, the issue is not just about remuneration but other factors which according to him needs to be addressed.
“There is trust deficit between health workers and government
”
All the promises that government has made to medical personnel about hazard allowance, special allowance, government never kept those promises.
“Even the minimum wage issue, the way it was implemented in every state, was laughable.”
“If the government knows it cannot fund the health-care system, we should sit down and consider what else we can do.”
Mr Abbah advocated for the use of data in policymaking because, in his opinion, the government’s plan is unrealistic.
Mr Otitoju reiterated the fact that Nigeria still produces quality medical professionals.
“Our medical professionals are excelling in other countries because they are good.
“The medical schools here must be good enough for people to write exams, to work abroad and for them to succeed.
“I know how difficult it can be to train a doctor in this country, which is why it is so painful that despite all that the country spends on training doctors, you can’t keep them.” Nurses and midwives are also included.
He went on to say that Nigeria has the highest level of doctor migration in Africa and third highest in the world.
Mr Abbah emphasized the importance of conducting additional research and addressing the problem as soon as possible.
In his reaction, veteran journalist Babajide Otitoju on Saturday’s edition of Journalists’ Hangout said there is a lot the federal and state governments can do about the mass exodus of medical personnel.
According to him, the country needs to produce more doctors and fund medical colleges.
“India has 179 medical schools, and every year the average intake of students entering for the MBBS is 67,000 which has helped them to meet that W.H.O ratio of doctor to the population.
“We can get there, if we work hard.
“More medical centers and medical schools must be built in order to continue producing enough to care for our population while also doing our best to keep the ones who are already here.”
Mr Otitoju emphasised the need for incentives and quality tools to be provided for medical doctors to work in the hinterland in the rural areas.
“Providing medical doctors with the right and quality tools will encourage a good number of them to stay”.
Further addressing the mass exodus by Doctors, Theophilus Abbah, a former managing editor for Daily Trust said as a medical personnel, he lacks access to facilities.
According to him, career progression is very important and vital so one does not become stagnated with old ways as the profession is constantly evolving.
Mr Abbah said, the issue is not just about remuneration but other factors which according to him needs to be addressed.
“There is trust deficit between health workers and government
”
All the promises that government has made to medical personnel about hazard allowance, special allowance, government never kept those promises.
“Even the minimum wage issue, the way it was implemented in every state, was laughable.”
“If the government knows it cannot fund the health-care system, we should sit down and consider what else we can do.”
Mr Abbah advocated for the use of data in policymaking because, in his opinion, the government’s plan is unrealistic.
Mr Otitoju reiterated the fact that Nigeria still produces quality medical professionals.
“Our medical professionals are excelling in other countries because they are good.
“The medical schools here must be good enough for people to write exams, to work abroad and for them to succeed.
“I know how difficult it can be to train a doctor in this country, which is why it is so painful that despite all that the country spends on training doctors, you can’t keep them.” Nurses and midwives are also included.
He went on to say that Nigeria has the highest level of doctor migration in Africa and third highest in the world.
Mr Abbah emphasized the importance of conducting additional research and addressing the problem as soon as possible.
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