The Convener, Healthcare Transformation Coalition (HTC), Dr. Jide Idris, has urged medical professionals to contribute to policy making that will address brain drain and other lingering issues in the health sector.
Idris, a former Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria, made the call on Saturday at a programme organised by HTC under the auspices of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, to address brain drain in Nigeria.
The programme had as its theme: ”Imperatives of Brain Drain in the Health Sector”.
He said: “We initiated this event to listen to our young professionals in the medical line why they are not happy and also want to leave the country and practice elsewhere.
“There are many causes to the challenge and a major part of it revolve around management of human capacity.
“This is an election period and a good opportunity for us to contribute to policy making by ensuring that we put the right leader in place to formulate good policies that will move the sector forward.
“Health is everybody’s business and not just for the government alone.”
He added that there was the need to train more healthcare personnel and have health financing grants to fill the gap created by those who have left and also improve their welfare.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that a rapid exit replacement strategy should be in place to address brain drain.
”Brain drain is not something that is new, it has existed for many decades, and it has affected all professional cadre of the country.
”Nigeria is a natural exporter of human capital, and this is because we don’t produce planes, equipment and the likes.
”We must make more healthcare professionals to address this issue and our institutions must pay attention to the selection process of medical students,” he said.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Muyiwa Eniayewun, said that the number of medical practitioners produced should be increased to mitigate brain drain effects.
Eniayewun said: ”For instance, we produce 3,000 doctors in the country annually; but I believe with this present challenge we should be able to do 10,000 to maintain a balance and sustain the system.”
NAN reports that a panelist session was also held for young medical practitioners to discuss and proffer solutions to the current trend of Japa (human capital flight) in various medical fields.
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