Brain drain: African countries now offer Nigerian doctors $4000, CMDs tell Reps
By Tony Emele
The Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals, Prof. Emem Bassey, on Wednesday, said other African countries are now poaching Nigerian medical doctors and other health professionals.
He also said that countries like Sierra Leone and Gambia were offering them up to $3000 to $4000 which was about three to four times in the country.
Bassey, who is the CMD of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, said the health sector is currently undergoing a major crisis in terms of manpower as health professionals are leaving in droves.
He also said doctors often went on strike because the government often failed to meet unrealizable promises.
Bassey said this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee to probe employment racketeering in Federal Government agencies alongside the heads of other health institutions in the country.
He said due to the urgency of the need to replace various health professionals who leave, it is difficult to comply with federal character in recruitment.
He also noted that previous governments had reached ridiculous agreements because of their urgent need to end strike actions.
