In response to the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, aimed at attracting the approximately 12,400 Nigerian-trained doctors currently practicing abroad, Nigerian doctors in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada have outlined key conditions that would make them consider returning home.
According to The PUNCH, while they appreciate the government’s efforts, they emphasized that more substantial changes are required to reverse the ongoing exodus of medical professionals from the country.
President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of the policy is part of a broader strategy to stem the tide of medical brain drain by offering incentives that would not only retain doctors within Nigeria but also lure those who have left back to the country.
Among the incentives proposed is the provision of soft loans and grants for returning health workers interested in establishing private medical facilities.
Despite these measures, in a separate interview with The PUNCH, the medical practitioners expressed skepticism, asserting that Nigeria’s deteriorating healthcare sector requires more than just policy changes.
The consensus among them is that improved security, competitive salaries, robust infrastructure, and a stronger economy are fundamental to any serious effort to revive the sector.
A Nigerian doctor based in the United States, Dr. Fikayo Benson, expressed a willingness to return if the government could offer conditions comparable to those abroad.
“The challenges we faced at home were primarily related to security, welfare, and healthcare facilities,” Benson noted. He added that, while financial incentives are important, many doctors in the Diaspora are also motivated by a desire to contribute meaningfully to their homeland’s healthcare system. However, he emphasized that “there needs to be concerted efforts from the government to address the systemic issues that led to the exodus of healthcare professionals in the first place.”
In the UK, Dr. Adefemi Adeoye echoed Benson’s sentiments, stressing that a safe and conducive working environment is essential for doctors considering a return.
“For any society to retain its workforce, they must be well treated in terms of payment,” Adeoye remarked, highlighting the importance of financial rewards alongside improved working conditions.
However, not all doctors share the same optimism about returning.
A female doctor based in Coventry, UK, outrightly rejected the idea, declaring, “God forbid! Are you joking? I have not seen what will make me return, even if they give me N50m per month.”
Her concerns are not limited to money but also include the country’s security situation, referencing recent abductions in Benue as an example of the risks.
A Nigerian couple of doctors living in Canada also voiced doubts about the practicality of the new policy.
The husband, a dentist, pointed out that “Wooing healthcare workers back to Nigeria is a tall order,” citing persistent issues like insecurity, a struggling economy, and widespread corruption.
He questioned the sustainability and stability of such policies, especially given Nigeria’s history of political instability.
His wife, a veterinary doctor, added that Nigeria’s medical practice is far behind that of Canada.
She noted, “What the vet technicians in Canada do as their daily routine, most professors in Nigeria cannot even do.” For her, the disparity in professionalism, facilities, and healthcare infrastructure makes returning to Nigeria an unattractive option, even if the new policy is well implemented.
The responses from these medical professionals underline the deep-rooted challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
While the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is a step in the right direction, it is clear that comprehensive reforms are necessary to make Nigeria an attractive place for its medical diaspora.
