Health workers in the country have predicted a further dip in life expectancy In Nigeria as the doctor- patient ratio keeps declining.
This is due to the increasing number of medics migrating abroad for better condition of service and in search of greener pasture.
According to a recent report released by the British government, no fewer than 5,405 Nigerian-trained doctors and nurses are currently working with the British National Health Service in the United Kingdom.
This is an indication that Nigerian medics make up 3.9 per cent of the 137,000 foreign staff of 202 nationalities working alongside British doctors and nurses in the United Kingdom, and since some doctors are already leaving because of Brexit, UK has need for medics from commonwealth countries.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that most of the Nigerian doctors and nurses are leaving for the U.K. because of better condition of service, a development which has further worsened the doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria as it declined from 1:4,000 to 1:5,000, contrary to the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 1:600. The doctor-patient ratio in the U.K. is 1:300
The Dean of Medical Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy ,Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Rufus Adedoyin, noted that the continuous migration among health workers had been a long time phenomenon which had been affecting the health care of Nigerians, especially in the area of disease management and treatment.
Adedoyin said, “A greater percentage of the migrant health workers seeking greener pastures are usually the most experienced ones leaving the stage for younger, not so experienced doctors, who still need mentorship of the experienced and senior ones. So, when this is this case, what do you expect of our health system? This indicates that life expectancy will continue to drop because of not well-skilled medics.
“Though this brain drain may have it disadvantages, but it will open up more jobs for health workers, who are in dire need of jobs, and when those migrant medics come back, they will retrain medics back in the country.”
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Mike Ogirima, noted that the rate of exit of doctors from the country had become worrisome. He blamed the situation on poor remuneration for medical doctors, poor working environment and inadequate medical equipment and infrastructure.
He said the trend had worsened the doctor-patient ratio of 1:4,000, which had caused longer waiting times at hospitals, rise in fatal disease outcomes, and more frequent medical errors by over worked doctors.
Ogirima said, “About 45,000 doctors are currently practicsing in Nigeria. This means that 12 per cent of 45,000 Nigerian doctors; that is 5,405, are practising in the U.K. and the country is now left with less than 40,000, excluding those practising in the U.S., South Africa, Saudi Arabia and others.
“Nigeria is using her resources to train doctors and professionals that will leave to work in foreign countries. What are those things attracting these professionals outside? Can we duplicate them here? Government should
provide adequate remuneration. We are not saying we should pay so much, but pay them for the job they are doing as and when due,” Ogirima said.
