Adequate funding of health sector will address emigration of Nigerian doctors… Expert
Dr Joseph Ugboaja, Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Nnewi, Anambra State has called for better funding of the nations heath sector to address movement of doctors to foreign counties.
Ugbaja told newsmen that continuous loss of experienced doctors as a result poor reward system as unfortunate adding that it had negative implications on healthcare delivery system.
“It is really an unfortunate thing because we don’t even have enough doctors for the country. It also has a negative implication for healthcare delivery in the country.
“What I believe we should be asking ourselves is; how did we get here? This honest enquiry will reveal both the remote and immediate causes of this unfortunate situation.
Ugboaja said that the government had a lot of role to play in stopping the ugly trend of exodus of not only doctors but healthcare workers to other countries.
According to him, if government improves funding for the health sector, the nation may experience significant drop in the rate at which doctors and medical practitioners leave the country.
“Government should pay more attention to Health and commit more resources towards health care development. The WHO bench mark of fifteen percent of national budget going to Health has never been achieved in Nigeria.
“Our Health budget hovers around five percent of the total budget which cannot guarantee significant development in the sector. So the doctors are frustrated and want to leave for countries with better amenities and remuneration,” he said.
