The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has predicted doomsday for the medical sector due to high level of migration of it’s members abroad.
The Body said Nigerians may someday wake up to hospitals without a single medical doctor as no fewer than 2000 had within the last two years relocated to other countries with better facilities and conditions of service.
President of the Association, Dr Orji Emeka Innocent made this claim while fielding questions from newsmen after the presentation of a communique issued at the end of its conference tagged: Uyo 2023 with the theme; ” Improved Welfare of Healthcare Workers: A Panacea for Brain Drain (Political and Doctors’ Perspectives)”, held in Uyo on Saturday.
The Association called for increased budgetary funding of the healthcare sector in the country, to the tune of a 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation to improve the quality of healthcare delivery.
Dr Innocent said that the 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation would be in line with the 2001 Abuja declaration for healthcare financing in Africa and global best practices.
He said the NEC of NARD also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to expedite action on checking brain drain by implementing the “one for one” policy on replacement of exited doctors and clinical staff.
“The National Executive Council (NEC) welcomes the committee set up by the Federal Government to mitigate the brain drain in the health sector.
“The Association urges a speedy conclusion of the task and immediate implementation of their recommendations to improve healthcare service delivery and reduce the emigration of skilled healthcare workers from the country.
“NEC calls for increased funding of the healthcare sector in the country, to the tune of 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation in line with the 2001 Abuja declaration for healthcare financing in Africa and global best practices as well as the digitalization of the healthcare services to improve the quality of healthcare delivery to Nigerian citizens,” Orji said.
The President said that NEC at their resolution urged the Chief Medical Directors of tertiary hospitals in the country to take responsibility for security in their various hospitals as NARD would no longer continue to watch her members being assaulted by staff, patients 1relatives or security operatives.
He said the association called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of the illegal shooting of one of its members in Delta and to ensure they are adequately punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We demand that the affected doctor be adequately compensated for the trauma and the damaged vehicle replaced. The NEC gives IGP two weeks to get this done as we would review the situation at the expiration of the two weeks the situation and our stand would be taken thereafter if the response is not satisfactory,” he said.
