By Daniel Edu
Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, has proposed that medical students studying in government-owned institutions should be required to sign a bond committing them to serve their country for a period of five years before they are allowed to go abroad for further studies or employment after graduation.
Fatusi made this recommendation while attending the six-day (7th) Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Association of Clinical and Academic Physiotherapists of Nigeria (ACAPN), which is scheduled to conclude on October 21 at UNIMED.
He argued that the Nigerian government should benefit significantly from the medical personnel it trains with public resources.
Fatusi stated, “I firmly believe that anyone who has received their education in a government-owned school under government sponsorship should be bonded to serve the country for five years before they are allowed to go abroad, and I have absolutely no apology for that. As a university administrator, we have staff members who go abroad from time to time for further studies. All of them sign bonds stipulating that upon their return, they will serve for a specified number of years. Instead of fulfilling this obligation, they have the option to buy back the years by refunding the money spent on their training.”
He emphasized the importance of supply and demand in this context, citing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report on a global deficit of about 15 million health workers. Fatusi argued that developed countries often poach healthcare professionals from countries like Nigeria, and he encouraged the country to open more opportunities to train medical students, suggesting that even if some choose to go abroad, a higher percentage would likely remain within the country.
Additionally, the Vice Chancellor called on the government to improve the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers to reduce the daily stress they face. He also expressed his satisfaction at hosting the conference, despite UNIMED being a relatively young university, highlighting the importance of recognizing the contributions of health professionals and academics.
