CovidNigerianMedics tasks FG on health care workers

By Doosuur Iwambe

CovidNigeriaMedics, a group of concerned and committed Nigerian health workers at home and in the Diaspora, has called on the federal government to provide the enabling environment for health workers in the country.

Speaking during an online engagement with about 100 participants with the focus on how healthcare delivery in Nigeria can be transformed, Daily Times gathered that the group said, medical personnel in the country have the capacity to offer best medical services as obtained anywhere in the world, if they are encouraged by government.

The lead speaker Dr. Jameel Ismail Ahmad, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon/Senior Lecturer with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital & Bayero University Kano in his presentation warned that if brain drain continues unchecked, it will lead to the collapse of the nation’s health sector.

Dr.Ahmad spoke on the topic: ‘from brain drain/brain gain Theory, to Brain circulation paradigm; rethinking the future of health workforce in Nigeria.

While quoting an estimate of the World Health Organisation(WHO), he said, a global shortage of health workers of more than 4 million and the Sub-Saharan Africa was found to have the highest rate of Physicians Brain drain with an average rate of 20% compared to 10% in other regions.

He revealed that Nigeria with a population of about 200 million has a Healthcare budget that is about 3.6% of Nigeria’s GDP with a weak healthcare system and massive infrastructural gap as well as massive brain drain of its healthcare workers.

Dr Ahmad observed that out of the 74,543 registered doctors in Nigeria, only half of this figure are estimated to be in Nigeria. He said it was unfortunate that Nigeria lost about $2 billion in training of doctors who migrate to other countries.

To put an end to ‘brain drain’ in the health sector, he advised the federal government to provide more funds, emoluments and incentives for medical practitioners.

He said, “A transparent enabling environment must be provided with solid health administrative policy, workable and sincere healthcare financing, improved healthcare spending and expanding access to quality medical education to ramp-up the healthcare workers deficits.

“Government should also improve ease of doing business for healthcare Start-ups and public-private partnership projects to mention but few.

“Nigeria should explore Healthcare Brain Circulation and enhance Knowledge and skills transfers (Virtual and Physical) among Nigerians at home and in diaspora.

“Enhance Research Collaboration and Medipreneurship collaboration among Nigerians at home and in diaspora.

“Improve and modifying work schedule and remuneration of healthcare workers.

“Improve welfare packages of health workers (housing, vehicle, children’s education, health, and life insurance.)

“Enhance Digital and Tele medicine. As the Covid-19 further worsens the health workforce in Nigeria, CovidNigeriaMedics, as a group is called upon to step up engagement and dialogue with Nigerian policy makers both at national and state levels on the concept of Brain Circulation”.

There has been a reported massive brain drain in the Nigerian health sector in recent years as many medical doctors are leaving the country daily.

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Nigerian doctors have been migrating to the U.S, Canada, Saudi Arabia, the UK and many other nations across the globe.

It is estimated that at least 12 Nigerian doctors leave the shores of this country to practice overseas, weekly.