Number Of Doctors Who Dumped Nigeria For Overseas This Year Will Shock You (See)

New Telegraph reported that President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Mike Ogirima, confirmed that between 10,000 and 15,000 Nigerian doctors are working outside the country. Ogirima told that about 90 per cent of those working outside the country are trained in Nigeria where they acquired their capacity.

The NMA President noted that between 40,000 and 60,000 doctors are working in the country.

Ogirima said;

“Nigeria has trained these doctors while other countries are making use of them. That is a sad thing. Of course in a country where the working environment is not conducive, what do you expect? “So, we expect the government to improve the working environment, provide the necessary tools for the doctors to work with and give them needed welfare to encourage them to stay in the country.” 

Just last month, over 500 doctors took examination for possible recruitment placement abroad. 

For Nigerian doctors looking for employment in the United States, they write the United States Medical Licensing Examination, while those seeking employment opportunities in the United Kingdom write examination with the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB). Unfortunately, the conditions driving the migration have worsened with more doctors working for several months in the country without salaries.

While providing an insight into the trend, a top member of the NMA told New Telegraph that in 2015, a total number of 715 doctors departed the shores of Nigeria, seeking greener pastures in foreign countries.

“Annually, the number of Nigerian doctors departing the country to work abroad ranges between 500 to 700,” a top NMA official told our correspondent. Giving details of the doctor’s migration, a medical doctor who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said more Nigerian doctors move to the UK while a fewer number go to Canada. 

“Their final destination is, however, the United States (U.S.), which offers them better remuneration and welfare package. “For these Nigerian doctors, working in the UK, Canada and other countries, including the Caribbean, working in these foreign nations is a stepping stone,” he said.