Posted on: Wed 11-10-2023

The Federal government is set to initiate Policy reforms to turnaround the health sector and ensure increased investment in healthcare infrastructure in order to improve equity in access to healthcare services and halt medical tourism.

It has also concluded plans to double the populations of doctors and dentist in the country from the 5000 to 10000 from the next academic year by increasing admission into the medical and dental institutions to help fulfill the aspiration of teeming youths who wants to study medicine and dentistry but could not, due to low Carry capacity for clinical training.

Meanwhile, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has inducted 211 foreign-trained medical practitioners into the Nigerian health sector.

Speaking at the ceremony conducted in Abuja, Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, observed that human resource for health crises is global but worst driven by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the push and pull factor that encouraged the nation’s young doctors and specialist alike and other health professionals to seek for a supposedly better opportunity which has now become the so-called new lexicon ‘Japa syndrome’

He argued that the mass exodus of licensed medical doctors and other health professionals to more developed countries, that has brought significant disruptions to Nigeria’s health care system will be discouraged by making health care environment more attractive, through strategic investments in infrastructure and prioritizing the welfare of all health prophesiers;

The minister noted that globally, there’s a shortage of health manpower, which has been estimated at a shortage of 18 million people adding that Nigeria will create room to produce more and excess health workers because the over 3000 doctors annually produced by the country remains grossly inadequate.

He insisted that if the country must achieve significant milestone in the coming years, she must double the rate of production of health workers or more.

Alausa who implored the newly inducted doctors to always prioritize their health and the health and wellbeing of your patients, stated that government is determined to promote industrial harmony in the health sector, by discouraging industrial action in the health sector that

The Minister stated that the event was very strategic in the renewed drive to move the health sector forward and change the negative narratives of Nigeria’s poor health indicators.

Alausa added that government will expand these opportunities to all other health professionals like pharmacist, nursing, physiotherapy, community health extension workers and radiographers.

“The primary healthcare (PHC) system in Nigeria will be better Positioned to address the several challenges that has impeded the accessibility, quality, and effectiveness of healthcare services through a renewed drive to promote health at the grassroots.

“Attaining UHC, we shall ensure that all individuals and communities have access to essential health services without suffering financial hardships, by optimizing health insurance, promote equitable access, and invest in -healthcare infrastructure amongst others”, he added

He advised parents to look out for advice from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on the countries to send their children for medical degrees stressing that over the years, poor performance in board exams for foreign trained medical personnel is traceable to inadequate training that falls short of our required standards in Nigeria. “We cannot compromise standards that will lead to reckless loss of lives, especially mothers and children.”

Earlier, MDCN Registrar, Tajudeen Sanusi, noted that out of the number the inductees, 205 candidates took part and passed the 2023 examination while six took part in the previous examination, though passed but could not be indicted for a reason or other.

He stated that standards of exams for foreign trained doctors and dentists will at no time in the life of our country be downgraded as the profession has to do with human life .

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