The emigration of skilled healthcare workers, the ‘Japa’ syndrome, has left a lot of openings that must be filled if the industry must meet the healthcare need of the populace. BusinessDay Sunday can authoritatively report.

Medical facilities, already grappling with limited resources, now face the added challenge of filling vacancies left by departing professionals, resulting in a surplus of job opportunities.

Recent trends indicate a surge in job postings for medical roles, with hospitals offering higher salaries and improved conditions to retain and attract staff.

Lagos State, for instance, recently reported a shortage of approximately 30,000 medical doctors needed to meet its healthcare demands.

“The dearth of medical doctors in the state has continued to overstretch the available officials in bridging the gap to available doctor to patient ratio,” Akin Abayomi, Lagos State commissioner for Health, said.

Abayomi said that brain drain contributed to the personnel deficiency, adding that the state is in dire need of medical doctors to cater for the increasing medicare of the smart city.

“Lagos annual population growth rate of six to eight percent comes with huge challenges and the health sector is no exception,” the commissioner said.

Regardless of the hospital’s efforts to recruit medical personnel, many of those hired never showed up, having already secured engagement elsewhere or left the country.

The surplus of job opportunities is a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. One might wonder if Nigeria is producing enough medical personnel to fill the vacancies created by this mass exodus.

The country has numerous medical schools that graduate thousands of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals each year. However, the output is not sufficient to meet the growing demand, especially with the ongoing brain drain.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many new graduates also aspire to leave the country for better opportunities abroad.

A recent survey by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated a 35percent increase in job vacancies in the healthcare sector over the past year.

The Federal Ministry of Health has acknowledged the crisis and has ordered federal teaching hospitals to intensify their hiring processes for medical professionals.

Benjamin Olowojebutu, first vice-president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), said that the increase ‘Japa’ phenomenon has affected the healthcare system’s capacity to function effectively.

“The persistent emigration has severely affected our ability to properly take care of health affairs. Lagos alone has reported a deficiency of 30,000 medical doctors. If this can happen in Lagos, you can imagine the situation in other states across the nation.

“The ‘Japa’ syndrome has created a severe deficit in our healthcare space, affecting all levels of the system,” he said.

Olowojebutu further emphasizsed that there was an urgent need to address the issue, noting that the Federal Ministry of Health is considering doubling the intake of medical students in training institutes.

“Hopefully, increasing the number of students admitted to medical schools will help the country produce enough medical personnel to fill the vacant spaces,” he added.

According to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), about 9,000 doctors have left the country over the past two years. Also, a 2023 report by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) disclosed that approximately 7,500 nurses have emigrated in the last one year, seeking better opportunities abroad.

Retaining healthcare workers remains a significant challenge. Adaobi Dozie, a consultant physician who recently returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom, expressed the mixed feelings among returnees.

“While it’s heartening to see the government taking steps to improve our healthcare system, there is still a lot of skepticism.

“Many of us are willing to come back and contribute, but there needs to be a sustained effort to improve working conditions, infrastructure, and job security,” she said.

The surge In job postings for medical professionals poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s ability to provide quality healthcare.

Emeka Ifeanyi, chief medical director of a leading private hospital in Lagos, explains: “We recognise the challenges facing our healthcare system, and we are committed to doing our part. By offering better pay, improved working conditions, and continuous professional development opportunities, we aim to retain our talent and provide quality healthcare to Nigerians.”

Experts say for Nigeria to effectively address the ‘japa’ syndrome, the Nigerian government and stakeholders in the health sector must adopt comprehensive strategies by improving the working conditions and remuneration for healthcare professionals.

Also, ensuring competitive salaries, better working environments, and opportunities for career advancement could help retain more medical personnel within the country.

Additionally, there should be concerted effort to address the underlying issues driving the exodus.

Furthermore, the government could explore partnerships with foreign countries to create exchange programmes that allow Nigerian medical professionals to gain international experience and return to Nigeria with enhanced skills and knowledge. This could help bridge the gap and improve the overall quality of healthcare in the country. (BusinessDay)

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