Buhari promises to end brain drain in health sector

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday promised to put an end to a situation where well-trained medical practitioners are leaving Nigeria for other countries.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President made the call while receiving executive members of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari said he would achieve the feat by increasing investment in the sector.
The President appreciated the concerns expressed by the association on the state of the sector in the country, saying, “We will do our best to work on your recommendations, and increase investment in the health sector.”
The President of MDCAN, Prof. Ngim E. Ngim, was quoted as expressing the hope that the constitution of a Minimum Wage Committee by the Federal Government would help curb brain drain, if medical professionals were better remunerated.
Ngim said the association consists of trainers, researchers, leaders and major stakeholders in health care, who are concerned about the well-being of the sector.
He appealed for action on the resolution of inter-professional rivalry in health care in the country, noting that a panel headed by Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, was convened in 2014 to look into the issues.
He regretted that no White Paper has been issued till date.
Among other requests brought before the President by MDCAN were better health financing, reconstitution of the Governing Board of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, need for a single term of five years for Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of tertiary hospitals, and the establishment of medical universities in each geo-political zone of the country.