The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) has rejected the compulsory five-year service licensing of a doctor proposed by the House of Representatives.
However, the association argued that instead of the proposed five-year mandatory service, a national emergency should be declared in the health sector.
The National President of the association, Dr. Kayode Adesola, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
The proposed bill, according to Adesola, was based on the incorrect assumption that it would stop the brain drain from the health sector and would therefore have a negative impact on the industry.
He claimed that before advancing such a measure, the bill’s supporters did not perform in-depth research on the causes of the brain drain disaster or consult with health stakeholders about the ramifications.
Adesola noted that the bill would exacerbate the nation’s brain drain.
He mentioned that medical professionals don’t require a license from Nigeria to practice abroad.
“We keep saying that the health sector needs urgent attention. Our health system is not working and many Nigerians are dying because of the underfunding of the sector.
“We have teaching hospitals, general hospitals, and primary healthcare centres dilapidated with outdated equipment.
“Political leaders are seeking medical treatment abroad while the citizens are left to suffer in a country with one of the world’s best doctors.
“Before it was the young doctors leaving but now, the consultants are leaving. Many health workers left because of insecurity, not just poor remuneration or poor working conditions.
“Insecurity is impacting negatively on the health of Nigerians and the ability of healthcare workers to deliver services to Nigerians
“Asides the medical doctor that was killed at his clinic on Dec.31, 2022; two other doctors have also been killed and nothing has been done to rectify the situation,” he said.
He noted that the issue of brain drain was multifaceted and requires a more comprehensive approach to tackle it.
Adesola stressed that declaring an emergency in the health sector would assist to proffer sustainable solutions to attrition of health workers, improved healthcare facilities, and reduced disease burden among others.
Recall that the House of Representatives on April 6, passed for second reading a bill seeking to mandate Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners to practice for a minimum of five years in the country, before being granted a full licence.
The bill sponsored by Ganiyu Johnson, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Lagos, said the bill seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act 2004, to address the brain drain in the Nigerian health sector.