FG To Seek Help From Retired Medical Professionals

The Federal Government has made provisions for retired medical professionals in non-administrative positions to be re-engaged on a contractual basis, according to Minister of Health Prof. Ali Pate.

The minister explained to reporters during a visit to the National Hospital Abuja that the decision was necessary because of the clinical manpower “brain drain” that is causing a shortage in the health sector.

In addition, Ali noted that rather than just the structure or the equipment, human resources are among the most crucial in the health sector.

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He said; “The recent circular essentially provided for medical providers who are in non-administrative positions, that is those who are in clinical positions, to be re-engaged in a contract basis on the same terms as they were so that we do not lose the few that are remaining.

“That will go a long way in reducing the stress on the remaining health workforce. This hospital, for instance, we have had about 15 anaesthesiologists over the last several years, in the last few months alone many have gone.

“We have six that are remaining, some of them are about to leave and we have to make sure that doesn’t happen. Whatever the reason, if they are available, we should use them to provide the services that Nigerians deserve. That is our focus and that’s what we are going to do.

“We need to support health workers, we need to improve the circumstances of their work and we need to reduce the stress level.

“What we have seen is that in many facilities, health workers are leaving, some to leave to go abroad, some moving from one facility to the other because of issues of either work overload or some other circumstances.

“Now the replacement of those health workers can be expedited and we will work with other parts of government to ensure that when clinical providers leave their post, that the leadership of our hospitals are able to replace them with similarly qualified health providers.

“This is so that the burden does not get more on the remaining ones. In addition, for postgraduate trainees, we are going to expedite how they get into internships and the circumstances so that they can have productive experiences and learn to practice in the best way possible.”

The federal government will make every effort to keep those who are willing to return to service, according to Ali as well.

He added; “So when they get the waivers to replace or waivers to employ, because of pressure they employ non-health professionals and leave the medical professionals, the nurses, pharmacists, doctors, technicians out of the loop.

“Then because of pressure, they hire others because of the employment situation in the country. So it’s a delicate issue, but we are working towards solving that.”