The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), has lamented brain drain as over 100 medical consultants have, according to the association, left Nigeria in the past 24 months.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, the President of the association, Victor Makanjuola, noted the medical officials left the services of 17 tertiary health institutions in the country.
He further lamented that health workers are leaving in large numbers due to poor welfare and working conditions in the country, especially insecurity.
“The level of insecurity in the country has remained worrisome, making it nearly impossible to safely use certain road routes across the country.
“This is despite efforts being made by the government to address the challenges.
“The persistent attack on Medical and Dental Postgraduate Medical Fellowship and discrimination against our members have also continued unabated.
“These young people will not leave if the economy is good, the older ones will not leave if there are facilities to train with; they will not leave if their pay is reasonable and most importantly they will not leave if they are gainfully employed.
“Government as a matter of urgency should put policies in place to arrest the mass exodus of highly skilled medical and dental consultants into developed countries.
“Such policies must domesticate the pull factors while minimising the push factors that encourage emigration of healthcare professionals,” he said.
