Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, revealed that the Federal Government is devising plans to send select medical personnel abroad for specialized training, aimed at curbing medical tourism and bolstering research efforts in Nigeria.
Alausa disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Health is collaborating with the National Postgraduate Medical College in Ijanikin, Lagos State, to execute this initiative.
Speaking at the investiture ceremony of Dr. Peter Ebeigbe as the 23rd President of the National Postgraduate Medical College, Ijanikin, Alausa emphasized the ministry’s commitment to developing new curricula to address challenges within the health sector.
He announced, “The college, in partnership with the ministry, is establishing training in various sub-specialties to cater to Nigerians, reduce medical tourism, and promote research.”
Among the areas of focus mentioned by Alausa are interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, pain medicine, critical care medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, and robotic surgery. He further explained that funding mechanisms would be set up by the Federal Ministry of Health to sponsor selected candidates for overseas training, with a bond requirement upon completion.
Dr. Peter Ebeigbe, in his address, highlighted the issue of diminishing earnings among medical professors and consultants compared to their counterparts in the Middle East. He attributed the migration of medical professionals abroad to economic factors and advocated for urgent economic interventions to address the situation.
Ebeigbe stressed the importance of the Medical Salary Scale enacted by the Federal Government, which improved doctors’ pay and helped curb the brain drain phenomenon. He underscored the need for continued economic intervention to prevent further deterioration of the health system, citing the severity of the situation as observed in his interactions with resident doctors and trainers on a daily basis.
