Health Consultants Urge FG To End Brain Drain

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) and the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta chapter, Lagos, are calling on the federal government to provide a more conducive working environment in an effort to end brain drain in the health sector.

According to a statement on Sunday, Dr. Emeka Ibezi, the Chairman, MDCAN FMC chapter, made the call during the first meeting of the association themed, ‘Thriving as a professional in the current environment,’ that was held in Lagos.

Dr. Ibezi bemoaned the mass exodus of doctors, health workers, and consultants from the country and added that it is not a good development.

“Daily, lots of doctors, health workers, and consultants leave this country. Decision makers and those in authority should realise that the work environment is paramount; you can build hospitals and build institutions, but the people who also work in these institutions are in fact, more important than the institutions.

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“When you operate as a surgeon, you are not sure of electricity; you have to consider electricity in fixing your surgery dates. If these are addressed, it will check the exodus of health workers and doctors. I call on the government to look into the remuneration of the professionals, even the hazard allowance, as these were reasons why many medical experts migrate from the country.”

Dr. Adedamola Dada, the Medical Director of FMC, Ebute Metta, charged doctors and consultants to evolve with times in their relationships with patients.

‘‘We must train ourselves to understand, accept and practise this new shift in our daily relationship with our patients. As consultants, we should lead this process because it may be the way for the practice of our profession in this particular generation.

‘‘Every generation would define itself and if we fail to conform with the requirements of the time and remain stuck in the gone-by times, I am afraid it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to practise medicine or indeed any other profession.’’