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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