The President of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, Prof. Aminu Muhammad, has warned that Nigeria is facing a severe healthcare crisis as it may take a decade to replace the 500 doctors who recently left the country in search of better opportunities.
Muhammad’s concerns were raised on Sunday, following findings by the association indicating that, out of 80 chapters, 50 confirmed the departure of over 500 medical professionals from Nigeria to foreign countries.
Speaking after delivering a communique at the Biennial Delegates Meeting of the Association held in Kano, the president expressed his distress over the alarming exodus of medical specialists, which he believes paints a bleak future for Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
He emphasized that Nigeria has consistently produced a significant number of clinical experts, graduates, and postgraduates in sub-Saharan Africa who have gone on to achieve remarkable feats worldwide.
The communique issued during the meeting highlighted the dire threat to medical education and the country’s healthcare system due to the significant emigration of specialists and trainers.
It called for collaborative efforts among teaching hospitals, universities, and regulatory bodies to enhance the quality of medical education.
Furthermore, the communique urged the government to rally all stakeholders to revitalize Nigeria’s healthcare system, focusing on providing affordable and accessible healthcare services across the nation.
It also stressed the need for urgent measures, including incentives, to retain and rebuild the healthcare workforce that has been substantially depleted by the brain drain.