President Bola Tinubu has approved a new National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to tackle the ongoing exodus of Nigerian doctors to foreign countries.
The policy, announced by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, aims to encourage the return of 12,400 Nigerian-trained doctors currently practicing abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom.
On Tuesday, Professor Pate, who also appeared on Channels TV, highlighted the impact of the migration trend, noting that 67% of Nigerian-trained doctors are currently practicing in the UK. “The UK will need Nigerian doctors; 67% of our doctors go to the United Kingdom and 25% of the NHS workforce is Nigerian,” he stated. He emphasized the need for recruiting countries to assist Nigeria in expanding its healthcare training capacity, as the migration of health workers is a continuous strain on the country’s healthcare system.
The policy signed by President Tinubu is designed not only to address the current wave of healthcare professional migration but also to serve as a comprehensive strategy for managing, harnessing, and reversing the trend. Professor Pate explained, “This policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals; it’s a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration. It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilized to meet the healthcare needs of all Nigerians.”
The announcement has been met with cautious optimism from healthcare professionals who are eager to see the details of the plan. Professor Muhammad Muhammad, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), expressed concern that while the policy sounds promising, it may face challenges in execution. “The issue is that we need to see the detail, it’s not just the English that matters. People bring a lot of policies on the ground, very well drafted and crafted, but execution is usually a problem,” he said.
Central to the new policy is the Nigeria Human Health Resource Programme, which sets a framework for regular reviews of working conditions. The policy aims to ensure that health workers, especially those in rural and underserved areas, receive the recognition and rewards they deserve. It also focuses on integrating advanced health technologies such as electronic medical records, telehealth, and a comprehensive health workforce registry. These innovations are expected to streamline healthcare delivery and ensure equitable distribution of health workers across Nigeria.
Professor Pate emphasized that capacity building is a key element of the policy, with continuous professional development and strategic partnerships for international training opportunities being prioritized. “This investment in human capital underscores our commitment to retaining and empowering our healthcare workforce,” he noted.
Another significant aspect of the policy is the return and reintegration of Nigerian health professionals from the Diaspora. The government plans to streamline the registration process and provide attractive incentives to encourage these professionals to return and contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare system. Additionally, the policy includes reciprocal agreements with other nations to ensure that the exchange of health workers benefits Nigeria.
The Secretary of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Lagos State Council, Toba Odumosu, also expressed support for the 1:1 training match proposal included in the policy. This approach, which has been successfully implemented in other countries, requires that for every Nigerian healthcare worker recruited by another country, that country would sponsor the training of another healthcare worker in Nigeria. “For everybody that migrates to particular countries, you have a bilateral agreement for active recruitment of our health workers, then you find a way to sponsor the training of another healthcare worker in Nigeria,” Odumosu explained.
The policy also addresses the importance of work-life balance, with provisions for routine health checks, mental well-being support, and reasonable working hours, particularly for younger doctors. These measures aim to create a supportive work environment, reduce burnout, and enhance job satisfaction among healthcare workers.
The governance of this policy will be overseen by the National Human Resources for Health Programme in collaboration with state governments. The Federal Government has also expanded the admission quota for medical institutions and is encouraging countries that benefit from Nigerian healthcare workers to assist in maintaining these institutions.
The policy has already taken effect, as confirmed by Tashikalmah Hallah, Senior Adviser, Media and External Relations. He emphasized that the government is negotiating with countries where Nigerian healthcare workers migrate to, urging them to help improve Nigeria’s health training facilities.
However, some healthcare workers remain skeptical, stressing the need for the policy’s implementation to address the root causes of migration, such as inadequate equipment, worsening insecurity, poor working conditions, and low salaries. As of December 2023, over 12,000 Nigerian-trained doctors and 13,656 nurses are practicing in the UK alone, with many more working in other countries across Africa.