Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, says Nigeria has lost over 9,000 Medical Practitioners to the Western communities between 2016 and 2018 which now manifests as brain drain.
The President of the NMA, Professor Innocent Ujah stated this at the Maiden Annual Lecture of the Association in Abuja.
Prof. Innocent Ujah raised concern over the brain drain challenge in the health sector.
He described as unacceptable the shortage of manpower as the country has doctor-to-population ratio of 1 doctor to 5000 patients.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora advocated sustenance of the annual project to find pragmatic solutions on brain drain and other challenges bedeviling the nation’s health sector.
Also, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, represented by Dr. Chris Piwuna expressed worry over lack of medical equipment at some colleges of medicine across the country.
The topic of this year’s lecture is brain drain and medical tourism: the twin evil in Nigeria’s health system.
The Maiden Annual Lecture of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, is the first of its kind which brought health experts to brainstorm on burning health related and national issues towards influencing policies and practices particularly as it relates to quality healthcare in the country.
RN