The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP, says that a national emergency should be declared in the health sector as against the proposed compulsory five-year service by the House of Representatives.
The National President of the association, Dr Kayode Adesola, made the call in an interview on Monday in Lagos.
Dr Adesola said the proposed bill would have an adverse effect on the health sector as it was premised on the wrong notion that such a measure would solve brain drain in the sector.
He said the proponents of the bill didn’t conduct an in-depth research on the factors driving the brain drain crisis nor engaged health stakeholders on the implications before moving such a bill.
Dr Adesola added that the bill would worsen brain drain in the country as medical doctors don’t need Nigerian license to practice in other countries.
“We keep saying that the health sector needs urgent attention. Our health system is not working and many Nigerians are dying because of the underfunding of the sector”.
“We have teaching hospitals, general hospitals and primary healthcare centres that are dilapidated with outdated equipments”.
“Political leaders are seeking medical treatment abroad while the citizens are left to suffer in a country that has one of the best doctors in the world”.
“Before it was the young doctors leaving but now, the consultants are leaving. Many health workers left because of insecurity, not just poor remuneration or poor working conditions”. He said
He noted that the issue of brain drain was multifaceted and requires a more comprehensive approach to tackle it.
Dr Adesola stressed that declaring an emergency in the health sector would assist to proffer sustainable solutions to attrition of health workers, improved health care facilities, reduced disease burden among others.
It will be recalled that the House of Representatives on April 6, passed for second reading a bill seeking to mandate Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners to practice for a minimum of five years in the country, before being granted a full licence.
Sponsor of the bill, Mr Ganiyu Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos, said the bill seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004, to address the brain drain in the Nigerian health sector.
The Nation/Maxwell Oyekunle
Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group
pub-5160901092443552
Related Posts
