The Nigeria Solidarity Fund (NSSF) has proffered solutions and recommendations to stem the tide of rising brain drain in the nation’s healthcare system.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the fund’s talk shop on brain drain in the health sector.
The communique highlighted poor working conditions stemming from the epileptic power supply, dilapidated hospitals, interprofessional rivalry, and security challenges exposing doctors to kidnapping and harassment from patients’ relatives as challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Others included non-existent training opportunities, delays in payments of salaries lasting as long as 23 months in states such as Abia and Imo, and poor follow-through of government policies.
The communique said that if the following recommendations are followed through, brain drain in the nation’s healthcare sector will be a thing of the past.
“Government should commit to implementing agreed policies such as hazard allowance, which took eight (8) months to negotiate and is yet to be implemented.
“Revitalizing the health committee: the health committee to perform the duties it was set up for.
stakeholder engagement:
“Government should convene roundtable discussions with relevant stakeholders to discuss workable solutions.
“Government should identify data gaps and research agendas and use the information gathered to understand and address brain drain and the risks of the health care system completely breaking down.
‘Government should work towards increasing patriotism by meeting the basic needs of the average citizen and creating an enabling, conducive environment.
“Regular disbursement of Basic Healthcare Provision Fund,” the communique added.
Discussants at the talk shop included: Dr Ngozi Azodoh, Director, Department of Health Planning, Research and Statistics (DHPRS), and Professor Innocent Ujah, the immediate past President of Nigerian Medical Association and Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Health Science, Otukpo, Benue state with contribution from Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, General Manager/ CEO, NSSF.