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During the week, the President of Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA), Dr. Ojinmah Uche, must have ruffled feathers once again in the healthcare circle with the frightening revelation that Nigeria is down to 24,000 doctors to cater for its over 200m population.

The NMA boss was speaking during a policy dialogue on Nigeria’s health sector brain-drain and its implication for sustainable child and family health service delivery, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru, in collaboration with the Partnership for Advancing Child and Family Health at Scale project of the development Research and Project Centre (dRPC).

He lamented that only “one doctor is incredibly available to treat 30,000 patients in most states in the South, while the situation in the North is more pathetic with one doctor to 45,000 patients.”

He blamed the exodus on poor funding of the health sector, non-existent house job slots, difficulty in gaining employment, poor remuneration, unnecessary and unhealthy inter-professional rivalry, insecurity, among other factors.

In his remarks, the Director-General of the NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, said Nigeria currently had the third highest number foreign medical practitioners working in the United Kingdom after India and Pakistan.

In his address, the Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, represented by Sydney Ibeamusi, Director of Trauma, Emergency and Disaster Response, noted that emigration of trained and highly skilled workforce was of great concern because it put further strain on the already challenged health system.

It is public knowledge that our medical sectors have been the hunting ground for foreign recruitment teams in recent years. As recently as March, 2019, a recruitment team from Saudi Arabia came to Nigeria on medical “poaching”.

Reacting to the incessant hiring of our doctors, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, himself a medical practitioner, Dr. Chris Ngige, dismissed the fears expressed by Nigerians over the developments. He boasted that Nigeria had enough medical personnel to spare. Many were even shocked by his claim that that we had surplus native doctors that could fill the vacuum and meet the nation’s demand for healthcare services. How ridiculous!

The Nigeria’s situation has remained very pathetic. To meet the WHO’s recommendation of ratio one doctor to 600 patients, about 300,000 doctors would be required. This means that Nigeria must produce at least 10,000 doctors annually for the next 10 years.

However, findings have shown that Nigeria produces about 3,000 medical doctors annually across the medical colleges that have been given accreditations, baring hiccups associated with strikes and other academic dislocations our institutions are well known for.

The Nigerian medical space is about the most dislocated in the world. Strikes by medical personnel across all the professional unions have become commonplace. Even in midst of national emergencies, Nigerian medical personnel are known to practically shut down healthcare facilities in protest over poor remunerations and professional allowances.

It happened during the 2014 Ebola scourge and also at the height of the Covid-19 rampage, leaving their compatriots at the mercy of death. The scenario has always been a mockumentary on Nigerian healthcare sector.

There was a time in the late 60s when a Saudi monarch was referred to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, for medical attention. Those were the halcyon days when Nigerians did not have to jet out to treat common ailments like headache and cough. Asian medical personnel from Pakistan and India were even attracted to work in Nigeria because the facilities and working conditions were excellent. So also were medics form Cuba.

According to a recent survey, 87 per cent of the medical practitioners believed that the federal and state governments were not concerned about addressing the daunting challenges facing doctors and the health sector generally. It gave a breakdown of those desiring to practise in better climes as Britain (93%), the United States (86%), Canada (60%) and Saudi Arabia (59%), among other nations.

But our successive leaders, especially the politicians, are destroyers! By the turn of the 80s, our medical infrastructure had not only begun to decay, the various hospitals had also become mere consulting clinics. The situation is worse now. For, even where the infrastructure is available, there are hardly any doctors to consult because of perennial strike actions. And it is the poor masses that are on the receiving end.

Government as at all levels must rise to stem this ugly tide. A nation that creates an environment leading to dearth of its health personnel is wittingly and unwillingly lowering its guard for all manner of ailments to rush its citizens to their early graves. We should not be happy that developed countries are coming to recruit some of our best brains.

Nigerian doctors are some of the best hands across the globe. This is because our medical institutions are doing well to churn out good products. But of what benefit is it to us if we lose them to foreign lands, only for the Nigerian elite to jet out to be treated by these same doctors who have fled the country?

Government should have a serious rethink about the grave situation and redress it without any further delay. A government that fails to provide people basic needs such as good medicare is either irresponsible of irresponsive.

https://www.blueprint.ng/worrisome-exodus-of-nigerian-doctors/

The President-Maj.General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) Said “Nigerians have suffered so much going abroad for medical treatment.This is not good for us & it must stop because we can’t afford it again" The President, who himself had travelled to the United Kingdom for treatment on several occasions."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/nigerians-cant-continue-going-overseas-for-treatment-buhari/amp/

Doctors can leave, Nigeria has enough, says Ngige
https://guardian.ng/news/doctors-can-leave-nigeria-has-enough-says-ngige/

Brain drain: There are enough medical doctors in Nigeria— Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire assures
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2022/08/brain-drain-there-are-enough-medical-doctors-in-nigeria-ehanire-assures/amp/

Prof. Isaac Adewole: Nigeria Health Minister say no be every doctor go be specialist, some go be farmers
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-45600654.amp

These are the grossly irresponsible leaders zombies are cheering on in this nation? Imagine this collapse & state of emergency in the health sector alone of our national life.

Not to even think of the corresponding collapse of other sectors like security, economy, agriculture,
and other strata of our national life.

The Nigeria’s situation has remained very pathetic. To meet the WHO’s recommendation of ratio one doctor to 600 patients, about 300,000 doctors would be required. This means that Nigeria must produce at least 10,000 doctors annually for the next 10 years.

Reacting to the incessant hiring of our doctors, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, himself a medical practitioner, Dr. Chris Ngige, dismissed the fears expressed by Nigerians over the developments.

He boasted that Nigeria had enough medical personnel to spare. Many were even shocked by his claim that that we had surplus native doctors that could fill the vacuum and meet the nation’s demand for healthcare services. How ridiculous!

Just imagine! These are the kind of irresponsible leaders Nigeria is perpetually bedevilled with.Too bad! So sad!

Imagine just 24 000 doctors left.

In Biafra they will find home again.

When Tribe and religion instead of merit becomes the criteria to choose leaders, these are part of the results...

Japa level I wish I’m an health practitioner

We would feel the effect of this in few years to come. By that time mortality rate would be alarming unless something drastic is done

Fulanis have 4ked nija beyond repair

I'm sure Neddstark and other urchins who want to turn doctors into slaves will apply to medical school so we can meet the demand.

Atiku is coming

Who cares about doctors , we are God blessed in this nation .what God can't do doesn't exists.

Our miracle churches have healed and blessed every body in this country.

UK is godless country ,who might require doctors .

We the great citizens of this country are protected by blood of the God.

The end is tomorrow
We are finished

Akinsete19:
Imagine just 24 000 doctors left.

Imagine what? Omoh plenty alegberie full this place o... chooooeh

egbabiekperemo1:

Atiku is coming

Only Atiku can fix this, forget the noise makers

Doctors are paid too much in Nigeria..... Very greedy people

Racoon:
Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7405045/uk-licenses-91-nigerian-doctors


https://www.blueprint.ng/worrisome-exodus-of-nigerian-doctors/

they went to a country where their services will be appreciated

Ngige said they should go and he does not give a damn about them. Na the beginning be this. Very soon Lecturers go tuwama join. Then we will understand the effects of voting in the likes of PDP and APC

Hmmm

Ngige should never have been a minister. His utterances on issues within his portfolio are appalling.

kurupt1:
Doctors are paid too much in Nigeria..... Very greedy people

You are correct, doctors should not get paid their dues, rather they should work from the goodness of their heart.

kurupt1:
Doctors are paid too much in Nigeria..... Very greedy people

You mean native doctors?

Ok

Unfortunately, we're only seeing from the perspective of the doctors. For every doctor who leaves, there are between 2 to 5 nurses leaving. Now also add Pharmacists, radiographers, laboratory scientist, and physiotherapist, health attendants, mortuary attendants, etc.

We're going to see the effect in a few years time if the govt can't replace those leaving. Almost all teaching hospitals are grossly understaffed now.

The truth is everyone cannot go and a country can't go down because of japa as some people are seeing hope in japa other fighters are also seeing the opportunity in staying behind to fill the void japa people left behind..simple truth.

Drs are using this very few japa opportunity to creat relevance. Tell us how many that failed the foreign exam. It will amuse everyone. 600 Nigerian doctors applied and 90 passed. Most of the doctors are doing health assistant oversea.

NMA with their propaganda , The only thing me I know medicine can do is Malaria, Typhoid , pain relief and Antibiotic , aside from these 4 tell me another diseases that have cure.... I don't believe in medicine, infact , I don't go to hospital.

Not just doctors.
but who do we blame?

A nairalander is dead. I saw the news on YouTube. His YouTube channel is Eboh Media.
OMG!!
Someone confirm this

Brain drain every month.