Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has expressed concerns over the high number of Nigerian doctors and nurses migrating to other countries, particularly the United Kingdom.
According to Pate, a staggering 67% of Nigerian doctors are practicing in the UK, while 25% of the National Health Service (NHS) workforce is composed of Nigerian professionals.
In an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Pate emphasized that Nigeria’s brain drain is a continuous issue, and that the country’s trained healthcare professionals are in high demand worldwide. He proposed that countries like the UK, which hire Nigerian health workers, should take responsibility for expanding pre-service education programs in Nigeria to balance the migration of professionals with local training efforts.
Pate noted that Nigeria’s health workers are highly sought after globally due to their capabilities and entrepreneurial spirit. He warned that if Nigerian doctors were to withdraw from the UK’s NHS, the service would struggle to provide essential services to many Nigerians who rely on it.
The minister also highlighted that over 75% of health workers trained in Nigeria in the past year have left the country for opportunities abroad. While acknowledging that freedom of movement is essential, Pate emphasized that efforts will be made to create a more conducive environment to encourage health workers to stay and practice in Nigeria.
The newly approved National Policy on Health Workforce Migration by President Bola Tinubu aims to provide incentives for medical workers to stay in Nigeria through improved welfare and enhanced capacity development. The policy aims to incentivize those who have left Nigeria to return and practice their profession in the country.
Pate emphasized that the government is not restricting freedom of movement but rather working towards creating a more favorable environment for health workers. He believes that by providing better working conditions and opportunities for professional development, Nigeria can attract and retain its skilled healthcare professionals, ultimately improving the country’s healthcare system.
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