NAIRAMETRICS
Nigerian Doctors in the diaspora have condemned the proposed Bill which seeks to ban Nigerian doctors from leaving Nigeria after a period of 5 years.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by multiple Nigerian Medical Diaspora groups comprising of of the Nigerian Doctors’ Forum, South Africa, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas,, Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain, Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists and the Nigerian Medical Association-Germany.
The letter was sent to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, titled “Re: A Position Statement From Diaspora Medical Associations- Bill Seeking to Restrict Newly Qualified Medical Doctors and Dentists from Leaving Nigeria” disclosed by NAN.
Poor policy
The Diaspora Medical Groups revealed that the bill, which purportedly seeks a way to stem the brain drain in the health sector, may not be the most effective intervention to resolve the situation, adding it is counterproductive towards solving Nigeria’s health issues
The letter was signed by Dr Emeka Ugwu, the President, of the Nigerian Doctors’ Forum, South Africa, Dr Chinyere Anyaogu, the
President, of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, and Dr Chris Agbo, the President, of the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain.
Also, signatories to the letter include Dr Nnamdi Ndubuka, the President, of the Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists and Dr Al Amin Dahiru, the President, of the Nigerian Medical Association-Germany.
Health services
They also said they recognise the problems posed by the exodus of Nigerian medical professionals from our health system, including, but not limited to decreased access to healthcare services and lack of quality of care, adding:
- “Care delivery deserts the inability to adequately enact healthcare and public health policy due to lack of manpower and leadership resources.
- “The medical or dental practitioner is the glue that keeps the team functional and the leading force for effective healthcare delivery system.”
They urged that diaspora healthcare workers would be willing to return to Nigeria if an enabling environment exists, reversing the trend and helping to solve the problem.
