The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has raised concerns about the preponderance of doctors seeking greener pastures abroad, to the detriment of the country. Forum Chairman Governor Aminu Tambuwal expressed his concern when he paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Health (FMOH), Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja.
In a statement signed by Tambuwal’s special adviser, media and publicity on Sunday in Abuja, the governor called for urgent action to deal with the threat. “We are witnessing a brain drain over the years. It’s alarming. And I think it has something to do with the well-being of the medical staff. I urge the Federal Government to do something about it urgently,” he said.
The NGF chairman also urged the federal government to push for the realization of the 25 percent needed to ensure universal health care coverage for all Nigerians, under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). According to him, the governors are eager to build a resilient health care platform, committed to routine immunization and total polio eradication, in collaboration with global and local partners.
He, however, said his efforts would be in vain if the alarming trend continues unchecked. “There are challenges, but much has been achieved, particularly in the effort to address the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw Nigeria rank fourth out of 54 African countries in the Global Health Security Index for 2021. While praising the Federal Government for the initiative to establish the BHCPF, Tambuwal stressed that the drive to make the fund realistic must not wane.
He assured the government and the FMOH of transparency and accountability in the management of the fund by the states, noting, however, that the disbursement will be based on the performance of the recipient states. “Health remains our priority as governors with a focus on building a resilient health care platform committed to routine immunization and the total eradication of polio in the country.
Ehanire, in his speech, corroborated the governor on the issue of brain drain, pointing out that 3,000 doctors graduate annually in the country. However, according to the minister, of that number, 1,000 leave the country each year.
He said this was despite efforts by the Federal Government to create more space to employ these staff in the face of growing demands for higher pay. “Of the doctors, those who are least likely to stay in the country, and for whom the incentive to do so is abysmal, are experienced consultants. They are the ones we are most concerned about because it takes a lot of money to train them and it is difficult to meet their expectations.”
The minister urged other state governors to emulate the Sokoto state government, which he says devotes a lot of resources to training doctors, who are subsequently hired.
