By Oluyemi Ogunseyin
11 March 2024 | 2:34 pm
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that Nigeria lost approximately 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to brain drain in the past five years. Pate revealed this on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, even as he lamented the migration of health personnel in search of better…
Doctors attending to a patient. Over 15,000 of them have left Nigeria in the past five years, according to Muhammad Ali Pate, the country’s health minister.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has revealed that Nigeria lost approximately 15,000 to 16,000 doctors to brain drain in the past five years.
Pate revealed this on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, even as he lamented the migration of health personnel in search of better standard of living and higher salaries that has affected Nigeria’s health sector.
According to the minister, this brain drain, popularly known as ‘japa,’ has significantly impacted the country’s health sector as it has deprived Nigeria of its most skilled professionals.
Pate said that Nigeria, at the moment, has as many as 300,000 health professionals across various cadres.
The minister added that the list includes doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists and lab scientists.
“However, only 55,000 of them are doctors, with many working abroad, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom,” said the minister.
Muhammad Ali Pate
“The loss of trained doctors exacerbates existing healthcare delivery issues and underscores the need for comprehensive solutions to address workforce distribution and retention.
Pate said Nigerian doctors, nurses and health officers working abroad are ready to return to the country on one condition, which is that the enabling infrastructure is provided.
1 hour ago
Mr Michael Agboro, 7th prosecution witness( PW7) in the trial of suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has admitted before an FCT High Court, Maitama that Emefiele did not confer unfair and corrupt advantage on self. Emefiele is standing trial on an alleged 20-count amended charge, preferred against him…
2 hours ago
The Rivers State Police Command has announced the suspension of two Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) over their alleged involvement in an extortion case. The officers, Doubara Edonyabo and Talent Mungo, were placed on suspension on February 29, 2024, following an investigation into their alleged involvement in a $3,000 extortion scheme. This development comes after…
2 hours ago
The Abia Government says it has commenced an investigation into the death of a student of Abia State University (ABSU), who lost his life in a clash between rival cult groups. Mr Okey Kanu, the state commissioner for information and culture, made this known on Monday during a press briefing on the outcome of the…
4 hours ago
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has urged South East importers and exporters to prioritise the use of Onne Seaport in Rivers State. IPOB said that state-imposed technical and operational barriers should not be allowed to outweigh the economic benefits to importers.
4 hours ago
President Bola Tinubu has indicated readiness to end the perennial farmers, herders’ clashes in Nigeria. He promised to draw up programmes that would end the problem within three weeks.
5 hours ago
A team of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) auditors, yesterday, arrived in Nigeria to commence the 2024 ICAO Universal Security Audit Programme (USAP) through Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) for Lagos and Abuja airports.
5 hours ago
Oyo State Government, yesterday, debunked the insinuation that it had abandoned the welfare of victims of Bodija explosion in Ibadan.In a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, the government said the rumour was unfair and unnecessary.
5 hours ago
The Vaccine Alliance, Gavi, has outlined a roadmap to ensure stable supply of HPV vaccine for adolescent girls in lower-income countries, saying with over 348,000 deaths in 2022, cervical cancer continues to kill women globally.
5 hours ago
Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has accused suspected government cabals of frustrating the payment of its four months withheld salaries.
6 hours ago
Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, heard that Chrisland School, Ikeja, violated the child protection policy of the state.