Over 500 Doctors Leaves Nigeria – Medical body
The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria disclosed that over 500 doctors in various medical fields had left the service of government hospitals for practice abroad.
Dr. Victor Makanjuola, the association’s President, disclosed while fielding questions from journalists shortly after a briefing on the resolution reached at the end of the association’s annual general meeting in Benin.
He blamed the problems in the nation’s health sector on largely unresolved issues by the government, with health care workers leaving the shores of the country in droves for more secure climes with better conditions of service.
“In the last two years, over 500 consultants have left the services of governments hospitals for practice abroad. All our government hospitals are consultant-led, which is the global standard practice.
“Now, we lose 500 consultants in just two years and we have found out that those who are more likely to leave are the younger ones,” he said.
According to him, to sustain the system and be able to train the next generation of medical doctors and medical students, the country needs to retain older consultants who are in their 50s and getting closer to their retirement so that they can stay back and train the next generation of doctors and medical students.
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Punch/ Lucy Offoboche
