President Bola Tinubu has authorised the Nationwide Coverage on Well being Workforce Migration, a big initiative geared toward addressing the crucial challenges dealing with Nigeria’s well being sector.
The coverage, which seeks to handle, harness, and in the end reverse the migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria, was introduced by the Coordinating Minister of Well being and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, on Monday through his X deal with.
In his announcement, Prof Pate emphasised that the coverage is greater than only a response to the continuing exodus of healthcare professionals, however a complete technique designed to rework healthcare human useful resource administration in Nigeria.
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“This afternoon, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in-Council, authorised a landmark coverage set to rework healthcare human useful resource administration in Nigeria,” Pate mentioned. He famous that the coverage displays President Tinubu’s dedication to constructing a resilient and sturdy healthcare system. “The Nationwide Coverage on Well being Workforce Migration addresses the crucial challenges dealing with Nigeria’s well being human assets. Because the AU Champion for Human Assets for Well being and Neighborhood Well being Supply Partnership, Mr. President’s dedication to a resilient and sturdy healthcare system is powerfully mirrored on this forward-looking coverage.”
The coverage arrived at a crucial time as Nigeria faces a big mind drain (colloquially known as Japa) in its well being sector, with many healthcare staff in search of higher alternatives overseas. This migration has left the remaining well being professionals in Nigeria to handle elevated workloads, typically underneath difficult situations as a result of insufficient gear, worsening insecurity, poor working situations, and a poor wage construction.
Central to the brand new coverage is the Nigeria Human Well being Useful resource Programme, which establishes a framework for usually reviewing the working situations of well being staff. This initiative is especially targeted on making certain that these in rural and underserved areas obtain applicable recognition and rewards.
“In an more and more digital world, integrating superior well being applied sciences is important,” Pate defined, highlighting the coverage’s emphasis on digital well being infrastructure. “The coverage’s concentrate on digital well being infrastructure—together with Digital Medical Data, telehealth, and a complete Well being Workforce Registry—marks a big step in the direction of a extra environment friendly, data-driven well being system. These improvements will streamline healthcare supply and improve the equitable distribution of well being staff, making certain entry to high quality take care of all Nigerians.”
The coverage additionally prioritizes capability constructing, recognizing the necessity for steady skilled growth and worldwide coaching alternatives for Nigerian healthcare professionals. “This funding in human capital underscores our dedication to retaining and empowering our healthcare workforce,” Pate acknowledged.
Moreover, the coverage addresses the return and reintegration of Nigerian well being professionals from the diaspora. By providing streamlined registration processes and enticing incentives, the federal government goals to encourage the return of expert professionals and reintegrate them into the nationwide well being system. “This method leverages the experience of our diaspora to bridge gaps throughout the well being sector,” Pate famous. The coverage additionally advocates for reciprocal agreements with different nations, making certain that the alternate of well being staff advantages Nigeria. “We name on recipient international locations to implement a 1:1 match—coaching one employee to switch each publicly skilled Nigerian employee they obtain,” he added.
Recognising the significance of work-life steadiness, the coverage contains provisions for routine well being checks, psychological well-being help, and cheap working hours, notably for youthful medical doctors. These measures are designed to create a supportive work surroundings, scale back burnout, and improve job satisfaction.
The governance of this coverage will probably be overseen by the Nationwide Human Assets for Well being Programme throughout the Federal Ministry of Well being, in collaboration with state governments. This governance construction ensures that the coverage is applied responsibly and aligns with broader sector-wide well being targets.
“With this decisive motion, the Nationwide Coverage on Well being Workforce Migration is ready to safe the way forward for Nigeria’s healthcare system,”
Pate concluded. “Underneath Mr. President’s management, this coverage will additional catalyze the transformation of our well being sector, making certain entry to high quality healthcare for all Nigerians. As we embark on this journey, all stakeholders are invited to contribute to constructing a healthcare system that displays our nation’s potential and promise.”
