Brain drain: health minister orders full replacement of staff

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Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health

Nigeria’s Health Minister, |Dr. Osagie Ehanire has ordered the commencement of full replacement of health care workers who sought for greener pasture across all federal health institutions in Nigeria. The Minister said the move was to cushion the adverse effect of brain drain on the country’s health sector.

According to a report in 2022, a total of 13,609 healthcare workers have left Nigeria for the United Kingdom between 2021 to 2022 due to low income and lack of adequate welfare benefits. This in turn led to an overwhelming setback in healthcare delivery system with the shortage causing delay in accessing quality healthcare, low usage of accredited health facilities, and higher patronage of unorthodox healthcare.

Addressing media at the inauguration of health facilities and projects at the University College Ibadan, the minister of health said he believed that although the trend remained a global phenomenon, it would not be taken with levity. He, therefore, ordered that all staff of tertiary health institutions who had resigned to seek greener pasture be replaced expeditiously.

Earlier, the minister had renewed the appointment of the Chief Medical Director of UCH Jesse Otegbayo for another period of four years. The minister later went ahead to commission some projects and other healthcare facilities in the hospital.

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