Brain drain: You’re free to leave, but…, says Health minister

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, states that Nigerian-trained doctors and nurses are in high demand worldwide, with 67 per cent of them currently employed in the United Kingdom.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today program on Tuesday, the Health Minister warned that the UK’s National Health Service would face significant challenges if Nigerian-origin health workers were to withdraw.

He also revealed the newly approved National Policy on Health Workforce Migration by President Bola Tinubu, aimed at addressing the mass departure of health professionals from Nigeria, often referred to as ‘Japa’.

The minister emphasised that Nigerian doctors and nurses are highly valued globally, which is a point of pride for the country.

The Minister stated, “The recruitment countries; that recruit our professionals, should they not have some responsibilities help us expand the training? Because the strain of health workers’ migration is continuous; it’s not going to stop tomorrow.

“The UK will need Nigerian doctors. 67 per cent of our doctors go to the United Kingdom and 25% of the NHIS workforce is Nigerian.

“Does the UK, for instance, want to consider expanding pre-service education? Can we have corridors that allow us to have a compact that ‘you’ll take so but you will also help us train more so you will replace them’? That is in the realm of health diplomacy and ethical replacement.

“Nigerians are very vibrant, very entrepreneurial, and very capable wherever they are. If Nigerians hold back from the UK, for instance, the NHS will struggle to provide the services that many Nigerians are going there to get.”

While noting that the government cannot restrict the freedom of movement, Professor Pate emphasised that efforts will be made to create a more conducive environment for health workers to remain and practice in Nigeria.

He continued “We’re not stopping anyone from leaving. We’re accepting that migration is here to stay—people will leave, some will come back, some will migrate here from elsewhere.

“You’re free to leave, but we will work on making the environment more conducive, to make you more likely to stay than leave, and to attract/incentivise those who’ve left, to come back.”