The Nigerian Medical Association has raised concerns over the increasing migration of Nigerian doctors, saying some medical students now begin planning to leave the country even before completing their training.
NMA President, Prof. Afekhide-Ernest Omoti, disclosed this in response to inquiries from Sunday PUNCH, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s healthcare system and requires urgent government intervention.
Omoti said some medical students now prepare for foreign qualifying examinations while still in training, with the intention of relocating shortly after completing their professional registration.
“The Nigerian medical student, even before he graduates, is already planning how to leave the country because he’s seen what is ahead of him, that there is no future ahead,” he said.
According to him, some young doctors begin taking foreign examinations during their internship so they can relocate immediately after completing the registration process.
The NMA president urged the Federal Government to improve working conditions and welfare in the health sector to give young doctors confidence that they can build sustainable careers in Nigeria.
He said the NMA had submitted a proposal for a minimum retention package to the government, stressing that the association was not demanding salaries comparable to those paid to doctors in developed countries.
“We’re not asking that you give us what is equivalent to what people earn abroad, but we’re saying give us what will make the doctor happy to remain in the country,” he said.
Omoti maintained that most Nigerian doctors would prefer to remain in the country if their welfare, safety and working conditions improved.
“Every doctor wants to remain in this country, I can assure you, hardly any doctor ordinarily would want to leave. We want to stay. But for many people, they just cannot do it anymore,” he said.
He also warned that Nigeria was losing heavily from the migration of doctors after investing significant resources in their training.
“The government spends so much money to train an average doctor, and these doctors leave for free. Who loses? The government loses; the Nigerian people lose,” he said.
The NMA president’s comments come amid continuing concerns over the migration of doctors and other healthcare professionals seeking better remuneration, working conditions, career opportunities and welfare abroad.
The association has repeatedly called for improved salaries, healthcare infrastructure, safer working environments and stronger incentives to retain medical professionals in the country.
Omoti also raised concerns over attacks and harassment of healthcare workers, describing the frequency of such incidents as alarming.
He said a national policy against the intimidation and harassment of healthcare workers had been developed following the work of a committee set up to address the issue.
According to him, the policy places responsibility on hospitals to provide adequate security for healthcare workers and ensure that perpetrators of attacks are prosecuted and made to compensate affected workers.
He further called for improved security in hospitals, including the installation of closed-circuit television cameras and deployment of adequate security personnel, particularly in emergency departments.
Omoti attributed some attacks on doctors to grief, frustration, poor communication and misconceptions among patients and their relatives.
He urged hospitals to improve communication with patients and relatives, particularly regarding the challenges created by inadequate manpower.
He said the shortage of healthcare workers often leaves a single doctor attending to several patients at the same time, making it impossible to provide the level of attention some patients and relatives expect.
