About 700 Medical Doctors leaves Nigeria annually…MDCAN

Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has said that about 500-700 medical doctors left the country every year for greener pastures.

The group lamented that the dilapidated and poorly maintained health infrastructure that dot the length and breadth of the nation was responsible for the movement of health personnel to other countries that have the facilities.

In a statement made available to our correspondent in Calabar, the group said “Nigeria is presently far behind the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended doctor to population ratio, with 35, 000 doctors practicing in a country with a population of over 170 million people”

“This is a far cry from the recommended ratio of one doctor to 600 people. It is estimated that about 500-700 medical doctors leave the country annually in search of greener pastures.

There is therefore an urgent need to institute measures to increase the number of medical personnel produced in the country while efforts are also intensified to curb brain drain to other countries.”

The statement signed by the President Prof. Ngim E. Ngim and Secretary General Dr Affiong Ibanga regretted that the healthcare system in the country was currently fragmented with inter-professional disharmony which ultimately leads to unsatisfactory health indices and treatment outcomes.

“This needs to be addressed and the health system made to work seamlessly to provide increased coverage and excellent comprehensive health services to all citizens devoid of all colourations.”

The group further regretted that the inadequate and mal-distribution of human resource for health are age long problems that should be addressed by improved work place satisfaction and remuneration to stem the tide of the present exodus to greener pastures which further worsens an already bad situation.

“Dilapidated and poorly maintained health infrastructures that dot the length of our nation need to be addressed in line with international best practices for optimal health service delivery. Provision of adequate facilities for diagnosis and the treatment of health conditions especially cancer.”

“Our hospitals need to be given top priority by the government. Public Private Partnership would be useful in this regard. There is also need to migrate to digital health information management system in our public hospitals to enhance security of patient’s medical records, teaching and research.

“Nigeria has continued to lose millions of Dollars on medical tourism to other countries on account of this. It is also vital to consider special funding vehicles to private medical practitioners to expand and equip their facilities to complement the public health institutions.”

MDCAN believe that the health indices of the country would be rapidly improved if the government at all levels, takes necessary but definite steps to reform the health sector by promoting professionalism, training and re-training, improved funding to meet the WHO minimum standard.