House of Representatives Vows to Tackle Health Worker Brain Drain as 51 Resign from FMC Jabi
The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions has reaffirmed its dedication to addressing the issue of health worker brain drain in Nigeria. This commitment comes in response to concerns raised by the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi in Abuja, which revealed that 51 health workers have resigned from the hospital since the start of 2023 in search of better opportunities.
During an oversight visit to assess healthcare delivery at the FMC Jabi facility, Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions, Amos Gomina Magaji, expressed the committee’s determination to enhance budgetary allocations for the health sector.
Magaji emphasized that the committee is actively working to secure additional land allocation for the hospital to expand its healthcare services. He acknowledged the challenges of limited budgets across various sectors in the country and highlighted the need for infrastructure improvement in health, education, and power.
He further stated the importance of health and its intrinsic link to the overall prosperity of the nation. Magaji stressed the committee’s focus on reversing medical tourism, making quality healthcare accessible and affordable within Nigeria.
The Chief Medical Director of FMC Jabi, Prof Sa’ad Ahmed, voiced concern about the severe manpower shortage experienced in various hospital departments. He disclosed that several healthcare workers had left the hospital this year, making it increasingly challenging to meet healthcare demands, particularly in the Ear, Nose and Throat, neurology, cardiology, and physiotherapy departments.
He expressed the need for urgent intervention and emphasized the impact of brain drain on healthcare services, noting that the departure of experienced professionals could not always be replaced adequately.
The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions has taken this issue seriously and is committed to addressing the critical matter of healthcare worker emigration, which poses a substantial challenge to the healthcare sector in Nigeria.
