The Senate has begun moves to check the rising emigration of medical and health professionals from Nigeria to developed countries.
Consequently, a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta got a boost as it scaled second reading in the Senate.
In his lead debate, Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, All Progressives Congress, APC, Ogun Central said that the establishment of specialized medical universities have become very important in the country as there are high demands for medical and health professionals in Nigeria.
Amosun said, “many reports suggest that the number of Doctors, Dentists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Bachelor’s Degree-prepared Nurses in the country are just not adequate to deal with the increasing population growth and the healthcare needs of Nigerians.”
“The rising wave of external migration of medical and allied health professionals seeking greener pastures in more developed countries further compounds the problem.”
The Senator who lamented that the mass emigration of needed professionals from the country has resulted in the near-extinction of some disciplines offered by Nigerian Universities, said, “Furthermore, some critically needed health professionals such as physical and occupational therapists, medical engineers, psychotherapists, and others are just not adequately produced in the country.
“Indeed, some of the disciplines are on the verge of extinction due to the mass migration of these professionals.”
Senator Amosun who warned that unless measures are introduced to check the situation, health indicators may continue to decline in the absence of interventions to tackle the trend, said, “More Doctors and health professionals leaving the country has led to a shortage of Nigerian Doctors and specialized health care practitioners.
“This has resulted in a heavy strain and disaffection among those remaining. It is equally creating a fast-rising personnel deficit in the country’s health sector, as statistics show that there is a ratio of one doctor to one hundred patients especially in our public hospitals.”
The lawmaker, however, expressed optimism that Universities of Medicine and Medical Sciences would provide the chance to train the critically needed health professionals as they will have flexibility, especially for creative program expansion.
Meanwhile, the Senate has considered a bill seeking to give legal backing to the University of Health Sciences, Otukpo.
