A new national policy that aims to stop Nigerian medical professionals from leaving the country has been adopted by President Bola Tinubu. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, made this declaration.
According to the minister, the policy is a comprehensive plan to control, keep, and stop the exodus of health professionals who are looking for better possibilities outside.
Pate emphasized that a number of initiatives are included in the program with the goal of stabilizing the healthcare workforce.
The minister emphasized that the goal of the new strategy is to utilize enticing incentives to get experts back to Nigeria and reintegrate them into the nation’s healthcare system.
“This strategy taps into the expertise of our diaspora to address gaps in the health sector,” the statement said.
“Additionally, the policy promotes reciprocal agreements with other countries to ensure that the exchange of health workers benefits Nigeria.”
“These bilateral and multilateral agreements are designed to safeguard national interests while honoring the rights and aspirations of our healthcare professionals.”
“We urge recipient countries to adhere to a 1:1 match — training one worker to replace each Nigerian worker they receive who was publicly trained.”
The minister stressed that the program prioritizes work-life balance and includes provisions for regular health examinations, mental health support, and fair working hours, especially for younger physicians.
“These initiatives aim to foster a supportive work environment, reduce burnout, and improve job satisfaction,” Pate added.
“The National Human Resources for Health Program (#NHRHP) at @Fmohnigeria, in collaboration with state governments, will oversee the governance of this policy to ensure its responsible implementation and alignment with broader sector-wide (#SWAp) health goals.”