Three hundred Nigerian doctors left the country in 2016, the
National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Mike Ogirima has
revealed.
He said more doctors have joined the migration train this
year. He did not give any statistics, although NAN learnt that 500 doctors sat
for qualifying foreign medical exams to move out.
Ogirima made this revelation at the association’s National
Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Thursday in Lagos.
The meeting had as its theme, “Exodus of Healthcare
Professionals, Time to Act is Now. ”
According to some reports an estimated 35,000 Nigerian
doctors are practising abroad, out of the 72,000 registered with the Medical
and Dental Council of Nigeria. The United Kingdom and the United States are the
top destinations of the migrant doctors.
In August, an official of the National Association of
Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Abimbola Olajide, revealed that no fewer than
2,500 doctors would leave the country this year.
“Nigeria is using her resources to train doctors and professionals
at the advantage of foreign countries.What are those things attracting these
professionals outside? Can we duplicate those things here?, ” Ogirima asked.
The NMA President said that the responsibility to check the
migration lies with the government, the people and professionals to provide
good working environment.
Ogirima said, “The government should provide adequate
remuneration.We are not saying we should pay so much, but pay them for the job
they are doing as at when due.
“We, on our part as professionals should look inward to
change our attitude to patients. We should make patients as the Centre focus of
why we are called doctors. ”
He said that the National Health Act of 2014 has not been
fully implemented despite warnings of legal action and its implications from
the NMA.
According to him, the act holds the key to revolutionising
the health industry.
“It will encourage provision of additional fund to the
system and ensure care of the vulnerable in the society.
“The present provision of only three to four per cent of our
annual budget to health sector is not helping the development of our system.
“Some African countries who have voted up to 15 per cent or
more to their health systems are witnessing gradual improvement in their health
sector.
“Nigerians are now patronising health facilities in our
neighbouring countries, ” he said.
Also, the Commissioner for Housing, Lagos State, Prince
Gbolahan Lawal, urged NMA to create sustainable policies that would make major
economic impact on Nigerians.
Lawal said, “If we consider informal housing, that is,
houses that do not have the approval of government and located in slum areas,
and the consequences, it has a lot to do with health.
“The government already has building code that does not
allow for houses not good for human habitat, “ he said.
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