FG plans to send Nigerian doctors abroad for postgraduate training, focusing on improving their qualifications and professional development.
To address the continued exodus of Nigerian doctors seeking improved prospects overseas (commonly known as “Japa”), the Federal Government intends to reintroduce a one-year international postgraduate training program for medical practitioners.
As a component of the all-encompassing National Policy for Health Workforce Migration, this initiative strives to halt the outflow of healthcare professionals from their home countries.
The recently endorsed policy by President Bola Tinubu seeks to lure around 12,400 doctors who have acquired their training in Nigeria and are currently practising abroad.
The seriousness of the situation was emphasized by Prof. Muhammad Pate, who serves as both Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. He specifically pointed out that a considerable 67 percent of these doctors are located within the United Kingdom.
The government plans to partner with the National Postgraduate Medical College and form alliances with specific international institutions as a measure to tackle this issue.
Read Also: FG Reveals Strategy to Repatriate 12,400 ‘Japa’ Doctors
Offering foreign qualifications to resident doctors in Nigeria will encourage them to stay within the country while availing themselves of international training opportunities.
According to the government, the program enables resident doctors in Nigeria to fulfill some of their training requirements abroad, which may motivate them to remain within the domestic system.
In addition, the federal government has intentions to enhance bonds with healthcare specialists in foreign lands via health regulatory entities. The objective of this alliance is centered around dispensing contemporary facilities and continual capability upliftment within the healthcare sector.
The policy also promotes the homecoming of Nigerian diaspora, either for temporary or remote means, aimed at bridging specific healthcare sector deficiencies.
The management of healthcare workforce by government institutions will require them to uphold precise records on the migration patterns of health professionals. Such data should cover their motives for relocating, preferred practicing countries, and other pertinent details. The National Health Registry shall encompass this information with a view to improving planning efficiency and overall security measures implemented in the sector.
The policy, according to Prof. Pate, is a holistic method of tackling the issues faced by Nigeria’s healthcare workforce. He stressed that it entails more than just responding to the departure of medical practitioners but rather seeks to strategically manage and reverse their migration through an elaborate system framework.
According to Pate, President Tinubu’s leadership as the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership illustrates his dedication to enhancing healthcare systems’ resilience. This policy is a testament to this commitment.
He pointed out that the Nigeria Human Health Resource Programme will prioritise frequent evaluations of work environments, specifically for healthcare professionals stationed in remote and neglected regions. The aim is to ensure they are duly acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts.
