The federal government has made public its intention to work with Nigerian medical professionals abroad and link them to local academic institutions and hospitals.
Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health, made the announcement on Tuesday, January 10, at the 17th edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Administration’s Scorecard Series (2015-2023).
Speaking at the event, Ehanire admitted that experienced physicians and nurses are fleeing the country because they believe they are not adequately compensated for their efforts.
The Minister went on to say that the federal government is attempting to solve the problem by improving working conditions for medical workers.
Ehanire went on to say that Nigeria is not the only country where health personnel relocate often.
He stated;
“I was at a meeting where the minister of health of Gambia was complaining too that the doctors they have, some of them have left. I also spoke with authoritative in the UK who also complained that their doctors are going to Canada and New Zealand where their pay is better.
“So they require lots of people because there is a high need in those countries. So mobility is global and not that we are doing something wrong but market forces working globally. The situation is the same in Turkey and Egypt.
“So, we are trying to measure performance and let people be happy they are properly rewarded for what they have done.
“What we are also doing is to do what they call the conversion of brain drain to brain gain. We are doing that with a new mechanism that is being set up now to engage Nigerian doctors and nurses in the diaspora and connect them with universities and hospitals because modern technology makes it possible for somebody to be delivering lectures in New York and we have people here listening to it. So we can have those who are ready to transfer knowledge to do so.
“Also, those who have to do surgery or see a patient can book periods during which they will come. So, they can be affiliated with a particular teaching hospital and come in with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to come here and pass this knowledge on.
Ehanire commented on the federal government’s intention to combat the new COVID-19 outbreak:
“The observed increase in the number of cases in China, the U.s.A, and Europe is seasonal, and it is not unexpected during the winter.
“So, the recent relaxation also affects the rising in cases with the removal of travel restrictions.”
