Japa: Nigerian doctors want Health Sector Development Bank to curb brain drain
Nigerian doctors, on the platform of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, have called for a Health Sector Development Bank to address the rising brain drain in the country’s health sector.
The doctors also warned that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, had become a source of cheap labour for governors, asking it to be made optional for medical school graduates.
On brain drain, popular as japa in Nigeria, the medical professionals asked for private investments in the sector with government borrowing a leaf from the countries emigrating doctors find attractive.
Have You Read
*11 movies about mental health
*How Phelophepa medical trains boost health in rural South African
*How to know healthy pomo (2)
The points were raised by Dr Uche Ojinmah, National President of NMA, during a lecture at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Anambra Branch of the association in Awka last Friday.
Health Sector Development Bank
On the special bank to curb the japa syndrome, Ojinmah noted that the establishment of a dedicated bank would encourage more private investment in the sector by providing concessionary and long-term financing for health workers.
In the lecture with the theme “Mass Emigration of Doctors and Other Health Workers; Origin, Challenges and Solution”, the NMA head said the dedicated bank would encourage more private investment in the sector.
His words: “A Health Development Bank should be established to provide funds for the private sector to establish hospitals at a concessionary rate with a good moratorium for repayment.
“There should also be graded disposal of public health institutions for profit over five years,”
‘Japa’
Ojinmah added that the exodus of trained young professionals comes at a huge cost to the country and should be checked urgently and with sincerity.
He noted that the factors influencing the emigration of doctors are poor funding, stressful medical education, including compulsory internship but non-available space, which often results in the exploitation of young graduates.
“Others are poor remuneration, inter-professional rivalry, insecurity, harsh economy, high cost of living, and lack of incentives.
“Those leaving Nigeria may never come back. Gambia and Sierra Leone are now better-practising locations than Nigeria for health workers, as we now train doctors for export,” he added.
Ojinmah said despite the disadvantages, the emigration of doctors has its advantages, including exposure to current development in the profession and remittances, which had become a major external contributor to the national economy.