Nigeria: Mind Drain

“The occasion will convey collectively policymakers and implementers alongside well being skilled associations and council executives, who’re crucial stakeholders within the well being programs strengthening course of”

The development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) is holding a symposium to debate current mind drain in Nigeria’s well being sector and its implications on well being service supply.

The high-level symposium themed “Nigeria’s well being sector mind drain and its implications for sustainable little one and household well being service supply and financing within the context of recent nationwide priorities” is going down in Abuja.

The occasion will convey collectively policymakers and implementers alongside well being skilled associations and council executives, who’re crucial stakeholders within the well being programs strengthening course of.

The high-level symposium will give attention to discussing present figures associated to the well being sector’s human capital loss to migration at Nationwide and sub-national ranges.

The organisers stated that is well timed because the nation’s well being sector is dealing with financing and human useful resource hole.

It stated the challenges within the sector is resulting in steady migration development of well being employees to different international locations in quest of higher work circumstances.

The symposium can even discover the implications of mind drain for brand spanking new nationwide well being priorities for maternal and household planning companies and determine methods and mechanisms for sustainable financing as a part of wider seek for speedy options.

Keep on this web page as PREMIUM TIMES offers stay updates of the occasion scheduled to begin by 9:45 a.m.

9:45 a.m.- It is a brilliant morning right here at Fraser suites, Abuja. We’re stay on the one-day high-level symposium on Nigeria’s well being sector mind drain and its implications for sustainable little one and household well being service supply.

Though the occasion was scheduled to begin by 9:45 a.m., will probably be beginning some minutes late as few of the members are but to settle in.

All is about for the graduation of the occasion. The facilitator, Moji Makanjuola, takes the rostrum and the occasion commences with the Nationwide Anthem.

10:05 a.m: Ms Makanjuola welcomes everybody to at the moment’s occasion. She stated the deliberations must be productive and efficient for the good thing about Nigeria. She invitations the Director-Normal of NIPSS, Ayo Omotayo, to ship the welcome remarks

Mr Omotayo takes the rostrum. He stated NIPSS is established to search out options to the nation’s issues, noting that the institute has centered on the well being sector up to now three years.

He stated the theme of the occasion is well timed as an increasing number of individuals are leaving the nation to settle in developed international locations.

He stated all sectors in Nigeria have one drawback or one other, together with well being which is a crucial sector in each nation.

Mr Omotayo stated the federal government should act now and quick. “When medical doctors depart the nation, it means we’re having existential issues.”

He stated the statistics of medical doctors and nurses leaving the nation is excessive, therefore creating an enormous hole within the well being system.

Mr Omotayo stated Nigeria’s inhabitants is rising massively and so is the necessity for extra well being professionals. He stated “the younger Nigerians will inform you that Nigeria has performed nothing to them – Is it truthful to this technology?

He stated the federal government is spending a lot on educating medical doctors and nurses, therefore it is a main loss once they depart the nation.

He defined that NIPSS will seat subsequent to the federal government consultant to debate takeaways from at the moment’s occasion. He ended his speech by encouraging everybody to concentrate to at the moment’s message.

10:22 a.m: The facilitator, Ms Makanjuola, invitations the chairman of the Nigerian Medical Affiliation (NMA), Uche Rowland, to offer the keynote presentation.

Mr Rowland takes the rostrum. He stated the time period mind drain refers to dropping a serious energy. He stated official statistics present that as of 2019, Nigeria’s doctors-to-patient ratio is at one to 4,900.

He stated this quantity has elevated because the nation continues to lose medical practitioners to developed international locations. He defined that Nigeria is in dire want of well being employees.

He stated from 1963 to this point, Nigeria produced solely 93,000 medical doctors; which is insufficient to cater for the final inhabitants. “The true shock comes when you recognize majority of physicians we’re coaching won’t stay within the nation,” he stated.

He stated analysis amongst well being employees exhibits that the UK and the US of America are the highest two locations for Nigerian medical medical doctors to hunt work alternatives, with 93 per cent and 83 per cent.

He stated Nigerian medical doctors are additionally migrating to Center Jap international locations like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. “We’re not simply dropping the consultants, we’re dropping recent graduate medical doctors too,” he stated.

Mr Rowland stated at the moment, Nigeria has the very best variety of medical doctors within the UK after India and Pakistan.

He stated India contributes the biggest variety of overseas medical doctors to the UK well being sector. He stated, in contrast to Nigeria, as of 2018 India achieved the WHO-recommended doctor-to-population ratio of 1:1,000.

He famous that India produces 50,000 medical medical doctors every year from greater than 479 medical colleges, with an annual capability consumption of 67,218 MBBS college students at medical schools regulated by the medical council of India.

He stated in 2015, 233 Nigerian medical doctors moved to the UK; in 2016 the quantity elevated to 279; in 2017 the determine was 475, in 2019, the determine rose to 852, in 2019 it jumped to 1,347; in 2020, the determine was 833 and in 2021 was put at 932.

He stated the Normal Medical Council (GMC), the physique liable for licensing and sustaining the official register of medical practitioners within the UK, reportedly licensed 200 Nigerian-trained medical doctors in a single month between August 31- September 30, this 12 months.

He defined that the info additional exhibits that a mean of three Nigerian medical doctors per day had been licensed inside June and July this 12 months to work within the UK. That is equal to 266 Nigerian medical doctors within the area of two months.

11:00 a.m: Ejiro Eyaru, a Nigerian physician within the UK, offers his goodwill message just about. Mr Eyaru stated Nigeria’s challenges are peculiar and each nation has its personal challenges.

He stated the Nigerian authorities could make extra efforts within the well being sector to stop medical doctors from leaving the nation.

He stated based mostly on evaluation, a minimum of 40 medical doctors depart Nigeria each week. He stated the issues have been highlighted and recognized however offering options is extra vital. He ends his speech.

11:05 a.m: The consultant of the Inhabitants Affiliation of Nigeria (PAN), Godwin Aidenagbon, takes the rostrum to offer a goodwill message.

Mr Aidenagbon stated the purpose of PAN is to advertise the development of demographic information and management the inhabitants query in Nigeria’s developmental course of by way of the promotion of scientific analysis on inhabitants points.

He stated the theme of at the moment’s discourse falls throughout the strategic pursuits of PAN in quite a lot of methods. He stated mind drain throughout all sectors has a major affect on inhabitants dynamics.

He stated mind drain within the sector could have detrimental implications for the well being of the inhabitants. He ends his speech and leaves the rostrum.

11:15 a.m: Oyewale Tomori, a virologist, takes the rostrum to offer his goodwill message. Mr Tomori stated mind drain is in each sector, not simply well being.

Mr Tomori stated the federal government should make investments extra within the well being sector to guard the well being of the folks.

He stated his goodwill message at the moment is “Let’s do what we will for this nation.”

That is the tip of his remarks, he leaves the rostrum.

11:23 a.m: A consultant of the workplace of the Vice President, Nicholas Audifferen. takes the rostrum to offer a goodwill message. Mr Audifferen stated the engagement with NIPSS on problems with insurance policies concerning Common Well being Protection has yielded constructive outcomes.

He stated the well being workforce has a crucial function to play in guaranteeing Nigeria achieves UHC by 2030.

He stated the presidential well being reform committee will evaluate and implement suggestions that may enhance the nation’s workforce. He ends his speech.

11:30 a.m: The minister of well being, Osagie Ehanire, takes the rostrum to offer the opening remarks. He’s represented by Sydney Ibeanusi, an official on the ministry.

Mr Ehanire stated the healthcare workforce performs a crucial function within the improvement of a rustic. He famous that almost all of medical doctors are leaving Nigeria forgetting that each nation has its personal drawback.

He stated some individuals which have left are keen to return again to the nation however an enabling atmosphere should be created

He defined that elevated welfare for well being employees will assist in addressing problems with medical doctors’ migration. “We will need to have a solution to reintegrate them and convey them again into the nation,” he stated.

He stated “We have to have a look at the international locations taking our greatest brains. We are able to tax international locations that our medical doctors are relocating to.”

He stated he seems to be ahead to the suggestions from this occasion that may assist in forming workable insurance policies. He ends his speech.

11:43 a.m: It is time for a gaggle photograph session and tea break. We might be again in half-hour, please stick with us.

12: 25 p.m.: The tea break is over and members are all seated. Ms Makanjuola takes the rostrum to ask the primary set of panellists. The panel facilitator is Kanyinsola Oyeyinka, coordinator, presidential well being reform committee. The primary panel might be deliberating on “Mind drain within the well being sector-the info and figures and implications for Nigeria assembly new well being priorities.”

12:27 p.m: The primary panellist is the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Tajudeen Sanusi. He’s represented by Henry Ogunleye. He stated the affect of mind drain will have an effect on Nigeria’s purpose to attain UHC.

12:28 p.m: Mr Sanusi stated the medical doctors left within the nation are overburdened with little or no pay. He stated the problem of welfare and funding for the medical world should be addressed for the nation to attain UHC.

12:30 p.m: The following panellist is Ibrahim Ahmed, Registrar Pharmacy Council of Nigeria. Mr Ahmed stated there’s a want to take a look at the coverage for human sources for well being. “That means we will evaluate what we’ve got at the moment to see if it is in line.”

12:32 p.m: He stated nearly all of pharmacists are leaving the nation similar to the medical doctors. He stated over 783 pharmacists left Nigeria in 2021.

12:33 p.m: He defined that the federal government should transfer to halt extra exodus of well being practitioners. “We should return to the idea to handle this drawback.”

12:35 p.m: He stated there are considerations that the nation now not ensures pharmacists properly fare.

12:37 p.m: The following panellist is the Secretary Normal of the pharmacists society, Olumide Akintayo. Mr Akintayo stated the nation has lower than 50 per cent of registered pharmacists practising within the nation.

12:39 p.m: He stated the federal government must give you an idea name for pharmacists based mostly on ante-natal care. He stated this exists in lots of developed international locations. “You possibly can deal with maternal and little one mortality issues by way of this initiative,” he stated

12:40 p.m: Mr Audifferen, the consultant of the VP workplace, is the following panellist. He stated the problem of being a Nigerian is the explanation why many younger Nigerians are leaving.

12:42 p.m: He stated 70 per cent of the well being issues are about financing. He stated the federal government wants to begin desirous about well being as a enterprise.

12:43 p.m: He stated healthcare reforms contain everyone because the federal authorities alone can not meet up with all of the finance of the well being sector.

12:45 p.m: The following panellist is the President, Affiliation of Public Well being Physicians of Nigeria, Alphonsus Isara. Mr Isara stated mind drain is an issue of human improvement.

12:46 p.m: He stated it isn’t inconceivable for Nigeria to attain UHC however extra effort is required. “The query is what strategy are we utilizing to attain this milestone?”

12:48 p.m: He stated the info can be found and the issues are seen however the concern is addressing these challenges. He stated the injury prompted in Nigeria’s well being sector can’t be revived in 30 years.

12:50 p.m: He stated the nation wants planning and technique to attain any change.

12:52 p.m: The panel facilitator, Ms Oyeyinka, asks the panellist to proffer options to the issue of mind drain. Mr Ahmed, Registrar of Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, stated the federal government should look critically into the side of reform. He stated the sooner the federal government acts, the higher.

12:57 p.m: He additionally stated there should be concord between medical doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and others. “Getting this proper is crucial to reaching well being reforms,” he stated.

12:59 p.m: Mr Akintayo takes the mic. He stated cash is required to handle the challenges of the well being sector however “we do not want funds from the federal government to attain this.”

01:00 p.m: He stated the nation must innovate and be strategic with well being investments.

01:03 p.m: Mr Audifferen stated there are two methods to handle the mind drain within the nation. “You will be resistive or adaptive. If you wish to be resistive, you need to deal with the issue of funding, staffing and concord,” he stated.

01:06 p.m: Mr Isara stated the nation must neglect about pushback elements and give attention to mind drain and the way it may be addressed. This brings us to the tip of the first-panel session.

01:12 p.m: The second and third panel session is merged and can begin now. The panel facilitator is Habib Sadauki, the president of the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Nigeria (SOGON).

The second panellists will deliberate on “Mind drain within the well being sector – the info and figures and implications for Nigeria assembly new maternal well being priorities.”

The third panellists will focus on “sustainable financing choices for well being sector expenditure in infrastructure, programs strengthening and human capital improvement within the context of shrinking fiscal space-implications for CSO coverage advocacy.”

01:17 p.m: The primary speaker is the director of the day by day belief basis, Theophilus Abbah. He’s represented by Ojoma Akor, the well being editor for the organisation.

01:18 p.m: Mr Abbah stated the mind drain state of affairs is worsening however the diploma varies. He stated there may be additionally a mind drain throughout the rural communities as medical practitioners are relocating to city areas.

01:21 p.m: He stated a go to to PHCs within the nation will present a clearer image of the injury prompted within the well being sector. Mr Abbah stated the statistics of well being employees leaving the nation have little question created a scarcity of manpower.

01:24 p.m: He stated the hole created is apparent in well being service supply.

01:26 p.m: The following speaker is the president of the Nationwide Affiliation of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Micheal Nnachi. Mr Nnachi stated though many nurses are leaving the nation, there isn’t any actual determine of people who have left.

01:29 p.m: He stated nurses are little question the worst hit of the injury prompted within the well being sector. He famous that nurses are essentially the most marginalised and underappreciated well being practitioners. “The nurses should be recognised as different well being employees are,” he stated.

01:32 p.m: Mr Nnachi stated UHC can’t be achieved with out nurses. He appeals to the Nigerian authorities to prioritise the welfare of nurses.

01:36 p.m: The following speaker is the director of household well being, FMOH, Salma Ibrahim. Ms Ibrahim stated the Nigerian authorities is just not relenting in its efforts to enhance the well being system.

01:38 p.m: She stated medical practitioners in search of greener pastures in different international locations will certainly come again to Nigeria. She, nonetheless, stated the federal government should do one thing drastic to convey them again.

01:41 p.m: She stated girls and youngsters are the worst affected by the exodus of medical doctors from the nation. She stated the federal government is doing all it could actually to enhance allocations to the well being sector.

01:43 p.m: “I am comfortable to say that the federal government is enhancing its well being allocation regardless of the financial situation as a result of the federal government recognised the significance of healthcare,” she stated.

01:45 p.m: Ms Ibrahim stated the nation has learnt nice classes from the COVID-19 pandemic and is trying inwards to attain sustainable financing of household planning.

01:47 p.m: The following speaker is the President of the Nationwide Affiliation of Neighborhood Well being Practitioners, Kabir Ahmed. He’s represented by Aminu Hassan. Mr Ahmed stated mind drain has affected each main and secondary well being establishments.

01:50 p.m: He stated the nation’s PHCs are deserted on the mercy of neighborhood well being assistants and atmosphere employees. He defined that the decrease degree of the well being sector caters for 70 per cent of well being companies.

01:53 p.m: He calls on the federal government to prioritise the well being of the folks.

01:55 p.m: The following speaker is Ekenem Isichei. Mr Isichei stated the general public ought to be taught to carry politicians accountable. “We should ask politicians questions on their manifesto and plan for well being.”

01:59 p.m: He stated the nation should get critical with advocacy and institutionalise accountability.

02:08 p.m: The following speaker is Gabriel Okeowo, a consultant of BudgIT. Mr Okeowo stated the problem of healthcare funding is paramount in any respect ranges of presidency.

02:07 p.m: He stated political will can also be required for the nation to attain set objectives.

02:12 p.m:The following speaker is the CEO of the personal sector well being alliance of Nigeria, Tinuola Akinbolagbe. Ms Akinbolagbe stated there are numerous partnerships with the federal government to extend public healthcare entry within the 774 LGAs.

02:15 p.m: She stated there are new insurance policies to make sure PHCs do not rot once more after revitalisation. “It is vital we invite the appropriate stakeholder to take heed to a few of these vital conversations and if we’ve got them on board, they will need to have the political will to implement insurance policies beneficial.”

02:19 p.m: The panellists are having a recap of the session. They agreed that the federal government should work with the personal sector and stakeholders if it is to make a change within the well being sector.

02:23 p.m:Additionally they reached a consensus that with out the revitalisation of the PHCs, the nation can not attain UHC. The panellists stated PHCs are the bedrock of any developed nation. They stated a rustic is just not totally developed till a powerful well being system is put in place.

02:25 p.m: In his recap, Mr Abbah, the director of Every day Belief Basis, stated the welfare of well being employees should even be prioritised. He stated with out the well being employees, the PHC system will crumble.

02:28 p.m: The panel session has ended and it is time for questions and solutions.

02:31 p.m: Individuals are elevating questions and making suggestions for the federal government on methods to enhance well being sector financing and curb physician’s exodus.

02:35 p.m: Some members stated the federal government can not obtain set objectives with out collaborating with the personal sector.

02:37 p.m: “We want medical doctors within the nation and to maintain them right here, we’ve got to search for homegrown options in reaching this,” a participant stated.

02:40 p.m: Mr Ibeanusi, the consultant of the minister of well being, takes the mic. He stated the ministry is involving all related stakeholders and dealing assiduously to construct a powerful well being system for the nation.

02:43 p.m: He stated the federal government is investing lots in coaching these medical doctors and they’re leaving the nation. He stated this can be a main loss to the Nigerian authorities.

02:47 p.m:He stated well being training is closely subsidised in Nigeria. “Let’s take away the subsidy so if the medical doctors are paying closely, they’re free to depart with none ethical obligation to remain,” he stated.

02:47 p.m: The panel facilitator, Mr Sadauki, takes the mic to announce the tip of this session.

02:50 p.m: The lead facilitator, Ms Makanjuolatakes the mic to name for a photograph session with the panellists.

02:55 p.m: The director common of NIPSS, Mr Omotayo, takes the rostrum to offer the closing remarks. He stated there are main takeaways from at the moment’s occasion.

02:58 p.m: The takeaways are “We should settle for there may be critical mind drain within the well being sector; we have to have concord and good relationship between medical doctors, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and others.”

03:00 p.m: Mr Omotayo stated different takeaways are “Elevated funding for the well being sector; coaching of well being employees; we have to produce as many well being employees as attainable; we should management the outflow.”

03:01 p.m: He stated the well being sector should be seen as a enterprise. He additionally stated crucial stakeholders should be allowed to sit down on the desk.

03:05 p.m: He additionally requires improved remuneration of medical employees.

03:08 p.m: The facilitator, Ms Makanjuola, takes the mic to announce the tip of at the moment’s occasion.

Thanks for staying with us all by way of.