Angela Onwuzoo As President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, marked his one year in office, leading stakeholders in the health sector have identified brain drain as a major obstacle hindering quality healthcare delivery to Nigerians. Evaluating the President’s first anniversary, the senior health professionals and leaders said Tinubu has commendable health policies coupled with the appointment of a seasoned health professional as the minister of health but has yet to curb the massive brain drain bedevilling the sector. Although they argued the President cannot stop Nigerian-trained doctors and other health workers from migrating abroad, the physicians said Tibubu can reduce the trend with improved remuneration and working conditions.
According to them, unless the President addressed the push and pull factors, there might be no end in sight to the massive brain drain in the health sector, which they said had led to the closure of departments in some tertiary hospitals besides the lack of access to specialists care by sick Nigerians. The President, who took over office on May 29, 2023, riding on his policy document tagged the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ said healthcare is back on the front burner. Tinubu said his administration is prioritising and improving Nigeria’s health sector through massive investments and an increased allocation of funds to the sector.
Describing health as a fundamental human right, Tinubu announced plans for a comprehensive revamp of physical infrastructure.
