President Bola Tinubu has approved a new National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, designed to address the ongoing exodus of Nigerian doctors abroad. The policy, announced by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, aims to repatriate an estimated 12,400 Nigerian-trained doctors currently practicing abroad, with a significant 67% of them based in the United Kingdom.
Prof. Pate explained that the policy is not just a reaction to the “Japa” trend but a comprehensive strategy to manage and reverse the migration of health professionals. The plan includes improving working conditions, enhancing digital health infrastructure, and promoting continuous professional development. The policy also seeks to establish reciprocal agreements with countries benefiting from Nigerian-trained healthcare workers, encouraging these nations to assist Nigeria in expanding and maintaining its health training facilities.
Additionally, the policy includes provisions for the return and reintegration of Nigerian healthcare professionals from the diaspora, with streamlined registration processes and attractive incentives. A key aspect of the strategy is the proposed 1:1 training match, where for every Nigerian healthcare worker recruited abroad, the receiving country would support the training of a replacement in Nigeria.
The Minister emphasized the importance of collaboration with foreign nations, noting that some countries, like Qatar, are already engaging in agreements to train Nigerian doctors, particularly in specialized fields like oncology, with a requirement for these doctors to return to Nigeria post-training.
However, the policy has received mixed reactions from healthcare professionals in Nigeria. While some see it as a positive step, they express concerns about its implementation and the potential impact on their rights and working conditions. The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has called for more details and transparency regarding the policy’s execution.
The policy comes at a time when Nigeria faces a significant healthcare worker shortage, exacerbated by the migration of doctors and nurses seeking better opportunities abroad. According to recent data, over 12,000 Nigerian-trained doctors are currently licensed to practice in the UK, with thousands more in other African countries.
