Stakeholders want more investment in Health sector

Stakeholders have called for more investment in public health institutions and improve the emoluments for medical doctors.

The essence, they say, is to enable the authorities to address the increasing rate of brain drain in the medical profession.

Addressing a Scientific Conference organised by the Nigerian Society of Anaesthetists in Abuja, the President of the Nigerian Society of Anesthetics, Professor Elizabeth Nwasor, decried the high number of the country’s professionals moving in droves to other parts of the world for greener pastures. She called for urgent measures to halt the trend.

Professor Nwasor also stressed the need for training of anesthesia specialists and the promotion of technological advancement in anesthesia practices.

The Guest Speaker, a medical expert, Obashina Ogunbiyi, listed factors responsible for brain drain, including poor welfare and working conditions, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity and attacks on members.

He recommended that the federal government should provide more middle-level manpower, conducive and secure workplace as well as special incentives and welfare packages for anesthetists and other professionals, in a bid to stem the brain drain syndrome.

The Minister of State, Health, Joseph Ekumankama said the federal government was also concerned about the issue of brain drain as he said measures were in place to check the upsurge.

Represented by his Senior Technical Adviser, Dr David Atuwo, the minister promised to work with the relevant organisation to address most of the challenges raised at the conference.