Prof. Akinsanya Osibogun, President National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, on Saturday, raised the alarm on the exodus of specialists from the country.
He urged government at all levels and medical stakeholders to formulate strategies and policies that could stem the tide and retain them in the country.
Osibogun, a professor of public health, spoke at a media conference on the 16th Annual Scientific Conference and Fellows’ Congress, organised by Post Graduate Medical College Fellows’ Association, in Lagos.
Revealed that the conference, tagged “Ekoakete 2022”, is slated for Aug. 8 to Aug 12., with the theme: “Strengthening The Health System in The Midst of a Pandemic”.
He said that governments and stakeholders needed to take action because some factors were attracting the specialists outside the country.
“Till date, this college has produced about 8,000 specialists for this country, but they are relocating outside the country.
“Even though the college is producing large number of specialists for the country, the current situation in Nigeria is causing a lot of brain drain in the health system.
“Brain drain is affecting not only the specialists, but also the junior doctors in various hospitals,” Osibogun said.
He said that at the college, strategies were put in place to wrap up the production of quality specialists for the services of the country.
“One of the strategies that the college adopts to ensure the quality of specialists is to promote continuous medical education.
“Annually, we have this scientific conference to provide opportunities in exchange of medical scientific knowledge
“At this conference, all our fellows who have been involved in research will bring forward their findings in order to dictate the new direction of treatment of patients in hospitals.
“It will also ensure that fellows are up to date in their profession practice by being aware of the latest developments in healthcare delivery,” Osibogun said.
He said that the college was the highest institution responsible for the training of medical specialists.
The college, he said, has the responsibility of ensuring that Nigeria has quality specialists in all medical areas, to cater for the health needs of Nigerians.
Prof. Ajibola Jeje, Consultant Urologist, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), said that they were expecting more than 500 medical fellows to attend the conference.
He said they were expected to come in from within and outside Nigeria.
Jeje, also the Chairman, Organising Committee for the conference, said the theme was carefully chosen.
He said this was in order to address and find solution to the current health situation in Nigeria and face the future. (NAN)