The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s agreement to deploy Nigerian doctors and other healthcare professionals to Saint Lucia.
On Wednesday, Tinubu signed an agreement to deploy skilled manpower to Saint Lucia, including teachers, medical professionals, and agriculturists.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ben Egbo, NMA secretary-general, described the move as a troubling contradiction and an attempt to bolster Nigeria’s international image while neglecting doctors at home who work tirelessly to serve the country.
Egbo said the announcement comes at a time Nigerian doctors are grappling with systemic neglect, poor salaries, and withheld allowances.
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“We remind the Federal Government that Nigerian doctors have been suffering working and serving Nigerians with many doctors leaving the country due to Poor remuneration; Chronic delays in payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF); non-implementation of previously negotiated welfare packages and agreements; Hazardous working conditions without commensurate risk allowances; Lack of universal implementation of the CONMESS salary structure for many of the doctors,” the statement reads.
“These challenges have overburdened the doctors left behind, leading to burnout, stress, chronic diseases, and even death, which invariably increases morbidity and mortality among Nigerians.”
Egbo noted that while the NMA supports regional cooperation and international engagement, it is “morally unjustifiable” to export healthcare workers to foreign countries and pay them five times higher than they earned while serving in Nigeria.
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“Thus, encouraging the brain drain with its attendant health consequences,” he added.
