President Bola Tinubu has given the green light to the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration in a bid to tackle the ongoing migration of Nigerian doctors to foreign countries.
The announcement of the policy was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, on Tuesday via his social media handle. The objective of the policy is to attract back around 12,400 Nigerian-trained doctors currently practicing abroad.
As disclosed by Pate during an appearance on Channels TV on Tuesday evening, a significant 67% of Nigerian-trained doctors are currently working in the United Kingdom.
Highlighting the issue of health workers’ migration, Pate emphasized the need for recruiting countries to take responsibility in supporting Nigeria’s healthcare training system to counter the continuous outflow of professionals.
“The UK will continue to require Nigerian doctors, with 67% of our doctors heading to the UK, and 25% of the NHIS workforce being of Nigerian origin.
“Nigerians possess great vibrancy, entrepreneurship, and capability regardless of their location. A decrease in Nigerian medical professionals migrating to the UK could lead to challenges for the NHS in delivering services sought by many Nigerians,” stated the minister.
Pate underscored that the policy endorsed by the President is more than just a reactive measure to the ongoing brain drain of healthcare workers but rather a holistic strategy to manage, leverage, and reverse the migration trend.
While healthcare workers expressed optimism about the policy, they requested more specifics and thorough implementation plans.
In the announcement of the policy, the health minister said, “Today, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, approved a groundbreaking policy aimed at revolutionizing healthcare human resource management in Nigeria.
“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration confronts the critical issues surrounding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce. As the AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, the President’s dedication to a resilient and effective healthcare system resonates strongly in this innovative policy.
“This policy transcends the current healthcare professionals’ migration challenge; it presents a comprehensive approach to govern, harness, and reverse the migration of health workers. It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, fairly remunerated, and optimally utilized to meet the healthcare demands of all Nigerians.”
Numerous Nigerian healthcare professionals depart the country in pursuit of better opportunities, leaving their colleagues to handle increased workloads and prolonged shifts.
They cite insufficient equipment, escalating insecurity, poor work conditions, and inadequate salary structures as the driving factors for their migration.
The minister highlighted that central to this vision is the Nigeria Human Health Resource Programme, which establishes a framework for periodic assessments of working conditions to ensure that healthcare workers, particularly in rural and underserved areas, receive the recognition and compensation they deserve.
“By fostering a conducive environment for professional advancement and stability, the policy aims to retain top-tier talents within Nigeria.
“In an era embracing digital advancements, integrating advanced healthcare technologies is imperative. The policy’s emphasis on digital health infrastructure, encompassing electronic health records, telehealth, and an extensive healthcare workforce registry, signifies a significant stride towards a more efficient, data-driven healthcare system. These innovations will streamline healthcare delivery and enhance the equitable distribution of healthcare workers, ensuring access to quality care for all Nigerians.
“At the core of this policy lies capacity building. Recognizing the value of continuous professional development, the policy lays out strategic alliances and avenues for international training to equip our healthcare professionals with cutting-edge skills. This investment in human capital underscores our commitment to retaining and empowering our healthcare workforce,” he emphasized.
He further mentioned that the policy addresses the repatriation and reintegration of Nigerian health experts from the Diaspora.
The minister explained that by establishing streamlined registration processes and offering attractive incentives, the policy aims not only to encourage skilled professionals to return but also to actively reintegrate them into the healthcare system.
“This approach harnesses the expertise of our Diaspora to bridge gaps in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, the policy advocates for reciprocal agreements with other countries to ensure that the exchange of healthcare workers benefits Nigeria. These bilateral and multilateral agreements are structured to safeguard national interests while upholding the rights and aspirations of our healthcare professionals. We call upon recipient nations to implement a 1:1 ratio—training one worker for every publicly trained Nigerian worker they receive.
“Recognizing the significance of achieving work-life balance, the policy integrates provisions for routine health assessments, mental health support, and reasonable work hours, particularly for young doctors. These measures aim to cultivate a supportive work environment, reduce burnout, and enhance job satisfaction.
“The governance of this policy will be overseen by the National Human Resources for Health Programme within @Fmohnigeria, in partnership with state governments. This ensures accountable implementation and alignment with broader healthcare sector goals.
“Through this decisive measure, the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration is poised to safeguard the future of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Under the leadership of the President, this policy will further accelerate the transformation of our healthcare sector, ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
“As we embark on this journey, all stakeholders are encouraged to contribute to shaping a healthcare system that mirrors our country’s potential and promise,” stated Pate.
Elucidating the policy further, the Senior Adviser for Media and External Relations, Tashikalmah Hallah, mentioned that the government is in discussions with countries where Nigerian healthcare workers immigrate to, to assist Nigeria in enhancing health training facilities.
“We are engaging with the nations where our healthcare workers migrate to explore possibilities of supporting Nigeria in improving the infrastructure for training health workers.
“The Federal Government has increased our admission capacity and upgraded medical institutions, hence they are now encouraging these countries, where our healthcare workers relocate, to aid us in this endeavor.The policy implementation initiated by Hallah has taken immediate effect as announced after the approval by the Federal Executive Council. This Nigerian government policy is binding on healthcare workers, ensuring that they can travel abroad for training and return to apply their new knowledge effectively.
The President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Prof Muhammad Muhammad, expressed guarded optimism, mentioning the need to understand the policy details better for practical implementation. He emphasized the importance of enhancing doctors’ welfare, improving the work environment, and retraining, highlighting the necessity of clarity in the document.
The Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, Toba Odumosu, acknowledged the potential benefits of the policy. He supported the concept of a 1:1 match for training healthcare workers, similar to practices in other countries, emphasizing the need for comprehensive information to assess its effectiveness.
The data from the General Medical Council in the UK indicated that as of December 3, 2023, there were 12,198 Nigerian-trained doctors licensed to practice in the UK. Additionally, a significant number of Nigerian healthcare professionals were working in other African countries, further highlighting the need to address migration challenges and enhance the domestic healthcare system.
The report also revealed a substantial increase in the number of Nigerian nurses and midwives practicing in the UK, showcasing Nigeria as one of the top non-UK countries of education. This underscores the importance of implementing policies that support the retention and development of healthcare workers within the country.
It is crucial to examine the implications of the policy comprehensively to ensure that it will effectively address the challenges faced by healthcare workers and contribute to the overall improvement of the healthcare system in Nigeria and reduce the reliance on foreign recruitment.