CMD Raises Concerns over Brain Drain, Mass Exodus of Doctors from Nigeria

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja


The brain drain syndrome as result of mass exodus of the Nigerian trained medical doctors has been source of major concerns for the first class tertiary health institutions in the country.

The Chief Medical Director, Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Professor Shehu Abdulrahaman, expressed concerns while speaking during interactive session with journalists in Lokoja yesterday.

Professor Abdulrahaman explained that brain drain syndrome has become a national problem which is peculiar to all tertiary health facilities in the country, noting that with all incentives put in place to attract the doctors in Nigeria they still prefer to seek for greener pasture abroad.

He pointed out that with facilities in some of the tertiary health institutions in the country, the doctors can do better with what the hospitals are doing abroad, stressing that it is just a matter of commitment and dedication.

The Chief Medical Director stated that in the last seven months at helms of affairs at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, a lot of innovations and improvement had been put in place to standardise quality healthcare service delivery.

“The aims and objectives of the present management are to make the FTHL a top notch medical facility to respond to every challenges within and out the Kogi State.

“Despite the fact that the federal government has not released the annual subvention, the management was not relenting in the area of staff recruitment and upgrading the existing facilities to fast track efficiency and good services delivery by the personnel,” the CMD stated.

The CMD who was represented by Dr .Odekunle explained the management was not leaving any stones on turned, adding the hitherto two theatre suits have upgraded to four suites with top notch medical facilities.

“We still need more hands and Nigerian doctors are being pampered to join the service Nigeria hospitals.”

On Emergency Management Response Wallet system, the CMD noted that the wallet system was designed to curb corruption perpetrated by some dubious individuals within.

He added that despite the challenges, the wallet system is the best in interest of the patients and the hospital.

While reacting to some allegations against the operation of NHIS, Abdulrahaman debunked the allegations of fake drugs, stressing there was no fake drugs. He pointed out that with present economic situation in the country, the prices of some drugs have geometrically gone up which most of the patients could not afford.

He added that when such drugs are prescribed for patients and not within the NHIS scheme, the patients tend to complain as if it was deliberate not administer such drugs .

The CMD therefore urged the patients to always make enquiry about the operation of the NHIS and area of the health challenges covered before enrolment to avoid mix-up at the end of the day.