The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has clarified his position on the issue of migration by Nigerian medical doctors to foreign nations, a development which has reportedly led to brain drain in the nation’s medical profession.
He was reacting to a media report where he reportedly said that the issue of doctors leaving the country in a large number did not call for much concern.
He described the attendant controversies that had trailed the comment in the media as unnecessary, calling for a deeper understanding of the issue in question.
“I speak from the vantage position of being a medical doctor and member, Nigerian Medical Association since June, 1979 and enriched by my vast knowledge on health administration.
He added that doctors’ union was not only for the purpose of personal aggrandisement, or asking for more emoluments and urging members to go on strike.
“Therefore, while the Federal Government, indeed, government at all levels strive to meet up with the World Health ratio of one doctor to five hundred patients.
“We appeal to the Nigerian Medical Association to prevail on its members to serve in the rural areas.
“That the Federal Government has an on-going programme that will in near future, revive and revitalise all the basic health centres in all the wards across the federation,’’ he said.
(NAN)