Musa Olomu, MD, of the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has stated that the outmigration of Nigerian medical professionals will persist until they are paid a fair wage and given other incentives to stay in the country.
Olomu said that the government should do more to keep medical professionals from leaving the field, even if the government has been trying to improve healthcare by expanding access to medical schools and constructing new healthcare facilities.
At a news conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, he delivered his performance evaluation following eight years in office. He spoke throughout the event.
Most doctors’ incomes aren’t enough to support their families, particularly those with children living abroad, according to the medical director, who is stepping down from his position on May 31.
There has been no change in the number of doctors leaving for the United States, the United Kingdom, or Europe, according to Olomu. However, he did note that medical school enrollment is on the rise, as are pharmaceutical and laboratory technology facilities. We also deserve rewards, therefore let them provide them to us.
Just like our colonial overlords did when we were second in line to the Director General, now pay us what we’re worth. On that occasion, medical professionals will remain. My doctors in this hospital managed to resuscitate the patient by removing the cancerous tissue from the patient’s bones and nerves.
When in the United States are they? Tell me what they’re up to in the UK. Cancer was successfully removed at FMC. How much do those doctors make? A range of about 700,000 to 800,000. The question is, what will they do with it? So you’re saying they shouldn’t go somewhere that pays 10 million dollars a month so they can support their families?
Yes, they have made substantial investments in healthcare. Yes, they are preparing medical professionals and pharmacists, but they should also pay them wages and incentives so that they can remain behind and attend to what’s really important, he said.
In looking back on his eight years as Medical Director, Olomu boasted that the hospital had been transformed into a world-class facility by acquiring state-of-the-art equipment and hiring an abundance of highly skilled medical and non-medical personnel.