According to Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, the newly-elected President of the association, who revealed this during a press briefing following MDCAN's 13th Biennial Delegates meeting and scientific conference in Kano, several departments in teaching hospitals are on the verge of closure due to the significant exodus of medical professionals, a phenomenon often referred to as 'Japa.'
Prof. Muhammad expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that more than 500 specialist doctors specializing in teaching roles have left Nigeria. These doctors play a pivotal role in training the next generation of medical professionals and nurturing specialists within the country.
He stated, "With the alarming rate of migration (‘Japa’), some departments are closing or left with one or two doctors who render services that were supposed to be rendered by 10 of them. It will take the country almost 10 years to replace the number by the rate at which we are producing. You can see that it is in alarming proportion. And after that, it has only gotten worse."
The challenge of brain drain in the health sector has not only affected Nigeria but has also led to the migration of highly skilled healthcare professionals to neighboring West African countries. Prof. Muhammad urged the government to urgently provide comprehensive solutions to address the brain drain issue. These solutions should include incentives aimed at retaining the already depleted healthcare workforce within Nigeria.
He stressed that improvements in infrastructure, working conditions, and security are essential to dissuade healthcare professionals from seeking opportunities abroad. The migration of specialists and trainers has put medical education in jeopardy, with universities facing constraints in their training capacities compared to their existing manpower and infrastructure.
Prof. Muhammad called for concerted efforts by the government to motivate the available healthcare workforce, emphasizing the need to sustain and enhance the quality of undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Nigeria.
