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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Prof. Charles Igwe, has raised concern over the spate of brain drain among medical practitioners in Nigeria.
No fewer 500 medical consultants are said to have left the country for greener pastures in the last two years.
He spoke while chairing the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council Meeting of the Medical and Dental Consultants of Nigeria (MDCAN), in Enugu.
This is as National President of MDCAN, Dr. Victor Makanjuola said the country was not where it should be in the area of healthcare, due to “poor budgetary allocation, poor infrastructure, lack of incentives leading to brain-drain, challenge of power generation and distribution in most of our facilities.
“It has become difficult for administrators to run the facilities smoothly and provide efficient medical care for the citizens.”
The theme of the conference was: ‘Medical Practice in a contemporary environment and sub-themes- brain drain and insecurity- implication for healthcare delivery, as well as understanding and navigating Nigerian tax laws are apt.”
The UNN VC, represented at the two-day event holding at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof. Edith Nwosu, Igwe blamed the brain drain on bad leadership in the country.
He challenged the consultants and other professionals to rise to the challenge, noting that the oncoming general election was an opportunity to right the wrongs in the country.
“Our nation at this time is faced with the greatest challenge of brain drain and your profession is the worst hit. What does your association need to do in order to check brain drain? Bad leadership in the country is the problem. Now that the Nigeria election will come up next month, time has come when professionals should get involved, when we should participate. This is the time to change the narrative as professionals,” Igwe said.
He explained that the figure of over 500 medical consultants leaving the country was as at March last year; “so it is far more than that.”
Makanjuola, was however, upbeat that policy makers and administrators would apply recommendations from the meeting in addressing the challenges facing medical education and the health sector in Nigeria.
Similarly, the Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Monday Igwe also bemoaned the level of brain-drain in the country, noting that within the last one year, six members of the hospital’s staff had also left for greener pastures.
He lauded the Federal Government for increasing the welfare package for medical workers, but called for more incentives in order to discourage medical workers from leaving the country.
Earlier, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Apollos Ndukuba described the hosting of the meeting in Enugu State as historical.
