FG Working on Initiatives To Reap Benefits From Health Workers In Diaspora.
The Federal Government is currently putting in place mechanism, in accordance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, to ensure that the country reap enormous benefits from its diaspora health workers. Minister of state for health, Dr Isaq Kunle Salako made this disclosure while featuring on Rockcityfm’s flagship programme, Day Break Show in Abeokuta on Thursday.
Also speaking on the programme, Dr. Kunle Ashimi, former NMA President in Ogun State said over fifty per-cent of Nigerian medical doctors have left the shore of the country for greener pastures which has led to a deficit of health personnel in the health sector. Dr. Ashimi stated that there is a pull and push effect in the system saying the effect of brain drain is beyond the hospital but also affecting the family unit of medical personnel.
Earlier speaking, Mr. Biodun Bello, a veteran Broadcaster, said brain drain of medical doctors is adversely affecting the country adding that the cost of training a doctor is between $21,000-$51,000, which is a huge investment the nation is losing to the Japa syndrome.
The participants however agreed that the mass migration of health care workers to other countries is primarily for better working conditions, stating that the government needs to improve conditions at home.
