The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has refuted the brain drain in the country, stating that 3000 doctors are produced annually.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister said on Tuesday in Abuja during a media conference, adding that only less than 1000 doctors leave Nigeria annually.
Ehanire noted that there is no embargo on employing doctors, citing that the supply of doctors means Nigeria won’t have a shortage.
“We have heard complaints of doctors who are now leaving the system but there are actually enough doctors in the system because we are producing up to 2,000 or 3,000 doctors every year in the country, and the number leaving is less than 1,000.
“It is just that the employment process needs to be smoothened,” he said.
He further disclosed that the ministry was working with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service to use the ‘One-for-One’ employment strategy so that if one doctor or nurse resigns to go abroad, another one is employed.
The Minister explains, “So if we have one replacement then you are not likely to have a shortage.
“But that has been worked out because the Head of Service had the experience that in the past when one person goes, they use the opportunity to take three and those others may not even be people who are required.
“We want to use this policy so that we can reduce shortages and have our personnel back in our hospitals.”
