67% of Nigerian Doctors Work in the UK; NHS at Risk if They Leave – Minister

Over 67% of Nigerian doctors are currently practicing in the UK, and the NHS could face significant challenges if they decide to leave, warns a government minister.

According to Health Minister Ali Pate, doctors and nurses who received training in Nigeria are highly sought after on a global scale. Specifically, 67% of such professionals are currently working within the United Kingdom (UK).

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During Tuesday’s Politics Today programme on Channels Television, the minister expressed that in the event of Nigerian-origin health workers exiting from the National Health Service (NHS), it would face significant challenges.

During his speech, he discussed the recently approved National Policy on Health Workforce Migration by President Bola Tinubu that aims to address the significant emigration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria, commonly referred to as “Japa.”

He commented that Nigerian doctors and nurses possess an alluring attribute, for which the nation should feel a great sense of pride. He further observed that not every healthcare professional from Nigeria migrates to other regions, highlighting those who do exit have their own justifications.

According to him, the policy’s main focus is on promoting ethical recruitment practices and health diplomacy.

Shouldn’t the countries where we recruit our professionals take some responsibility for helping us expand their training, given that the migration of health workers is a persistent strain and unlikely to cease anytime soon?

Nigerian doctors will be required in the UK as 67% of them migrate to that country, and Nigerian workers make up 25% of NHIS’s workforce.

Pate suggested that the UK could explore increasing pre-service education and creating pathways for individuals to both receive training and replace their predecessors. This approach would fall under the category of health diplomacy and ethical replacement strategies.

He added that Nigerians possess great vibrancy, entrepreneurial spirit and capability regardless of their location. If Nigerian nationals refrain from seeking medical attention in the UK for instance, this could present a challenge for NHS to cater to the needs of many Nigerians who visit for healthcare services.

According to Pate, more than 75% of health workers who received training in Nigeria within the last year have migrated as economic migrants to other countries. Although he acknowledged that excellent training centers exist and universities are doing well.

According to him, while individuals have the liberty to move out of Nigeria unhindered by government restrictions, efforts will be made towards creating a conducive environment that encourages them to remain in and actively participate within the country.

According to him, the revised policy will create favorable conditions for Nigerian medical professionals to remain in their home country by providing better benefits and opportunities for professional growth.

The new policy also emphasizes creating a work environment that is fair and does not exceed 12 hours per shift.