….Calls for training of more medical personnel

By Sinaayomi Aremu

As part of efforts to checkmate the incessant exodus of health workers from Nigeria to developed countries, the Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria, AMSN, has called for the establishment of a Presidential Commission on Health Infrastructure as well as enhanced training of more medical doctors and other health professionals.

Making the call in Lagos, the newly appointed President of the Academy, Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie said the Commission, which should be domiciled in the Presidency, would monitor, approve, and ensure appropriate availability of health facilities in the country, even as he noted that the training of more healthcare workers was a necessary approach to increase the output of existing medical schools and encourage the formation of new medical schools.

In a chat with Vanguard, Giwa-Osagie who is the joint co-pioneer of Invitro Fertilisation, IVF, in Nigeria, lamented that the Japa syndrome has intensified in recent years with a surge in the departure of young, skilled doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists, posing a significant threat to the nation’s healthcare system.

He said that to address this critical issue, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria proposed several strategies including increasing the output of medical schools and encouraging the establishment of new institutions. By training more healthcare professionals, Nigeria can mitigate the impact of brain drain, he reasoned.

His words: “The exodus of medical manpower from developing countries to developed countries is a major problem in the health field now. This syndrome is not new. In the 1970s senior doctors went to Arabian Gulf countries to work.

“The health service in Nigeria and West Africa survived because the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African Postgraduate Medical Colleges were training specialists.

“These new specialists were used to replace the senior doctors who went to the Arabian Gulf. However, the recent exodus is more widespread and involves mainly young professionals—doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, etc.

“One approach to address this problem is to train more doctors and health professionals. To meet this need is to increase the output of the medical school and to encourage the formation of new medical schools.

“Appropriate steps also are to be applied to producing other health professionals. The Academy offers a depth of intellect and experience to meet the need for more trained manpower.”

Further, Giwa-Osagie stressed that the College also emphasises the importance of improving working conditions and compensation for healthcare workers.

“This includes increasing salaries, providing adequate allowances, and enhancing the overall work environment. Establishing a Presidential Commission on Health Infrastructure could help ensure the availability of modern healthcare facilities across the country.

“Additionally, allocating a portion of government revenue from health-related taxes, such as those on cigarettes and alcohol, to healthcare infrastructure development can further support these efforts. By implementing these measures, Nigeria can stem the tide of brain drain and ensure a sustainable healthcare workforce for the future.”

Speaking on the plans and projections of the Academy, he described it as a ‘Think Tank’ for the nation with a bank of intellect and expertise. Giwa-Osagie noted that the Clinical Section of the Academy had a webinar on the ”Brain Drain” earlier this year, during which there were preferred strategies and an action plan. 

“The push factors leading to an exodus of manpower include the economic factor. The remuneration, allowances, and work environment of the professionals have to be improved. If salaries cannot be increased, a special allowance can be used to increase the emoluments of the doctors and health professionals. 

 “The Fellows of the Academy are parts of the Nigerian experience. They are therefore in a very good position to help the government reach applicable measures to achieve effective and sustainable reforms of the Nigerian health sector.”

In his view, the National Health Insurance Scheme must be made more comprehensive.

“Every working Nigerian should be insured for health care. This will be a significant advancement if health insurance is expanded. The expertise of the Academy can contribute to the implementation of widespread health Insurance.

“Quackery in society is a feature of the shortcoming of the provision of regular, regulated health care. Public education to address health-seeking behaviour is an important step in checking quackery as the populace will be aware of what is available and where and by whom. “The Regulatory Agencies and monitoring arms of the Ministry of Health should be strengthened and more publicity should be given to perpetrators of quackery. The government should make more use of experts among Fellows of the Academy to be part of the appropriate ministries or agencies.”

On fertility treatment, Giwa-Osagie said that the lack of regulation has hampered the quality IVF industry in Nigeria.

“Fellows of the Academy have been part of the efforts in Lagos State Government and at the National Assembly to enact regulation and laws for assisted reproduction, including surrogacy. These steps should be accelerated to produce laws with enforcement steps. The Academy is ready to assist in getting the correct regulations and Laws enacted.

 “In the next three years, the Academy will grow in influence, exposure, and public acknowledgement. The great steps of the Founders and President and Board of Trustees and Academy Administration will expand. The physical presence of the academy will be more obvious. Its action as a ‘Think Tank’ in Nigeria and collaboration with other national and interactional Academies will expand and be more obvious,” he affirmed.