TheCable

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for the establishment of a health sector development bank, as part of measures to address the migration of medical professionals.

Speaking on Friday at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Anambra branch of the association in Awka, Uche Ojinmah, national president of the NMA, said the exodus of trained young professionals is coming at a huge cost to the country and should be checked urgently and with sincerity.

He identified some of the factors influencing the emigration of doctors as poor funding, and stressful medical education, including compulsory internship but non-available space which often results in the exploitation of young graduates.

Ojinmah said the establishment of a dedicated bank would encourage more private investment in the sector by providing concessionary and long-term financing for health workers.

“A health development bank should be established to provide funds for the private sector to establish hospitals at a concessionary rate with a good moratorium for repayment,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“There should also be graded disposal of public health institutions for profit over a five-year period.”

The NMA president said those going outside the country to practice may never return home and that Nigerians may wake up one day to realise that there were no more doctors in the country.

“Those leaving Nigeria may never come back. Gambia and Sierra Leone are now better-practising locations than Nigeria for health workers, as we now train doctors for export,” he said.