The Federal Government has introduced a National Policy on Health Workforce Migration to address the “japa” phenomenon among Nigerian medical professionals. This policy aims to retain Nigeria’s health workforce and encourage the return of those who have migrated.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, highlighted that the UK remains the top destination for Nigerian health professionals seeking to relocate. According to data from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), over 3,000 doctors applied for letters of good standing in the past two years, with 68% planning to move to the UK.
Pate also noted a significant increase in migration among nurses, with 52% choosing the UK and 36% the US, as reported by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Additionally, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) recorded an 89% rise in migration between 2021 and 2022. Pharmacists are also leaving in large numbers, with Canada being the top destination for 72% of those who migrated in 2022. Optometrists and physiotherapists are also among those emigrating, with the UK being the preferred destination for 91% of physiotherapists who left Nigeria in 2022.
The new policy addresses the factors driving this migration, including economic, professional, and environmental issues. Pate explained that the Health Workforce Migration Policy is a managed migration approach that has undergone extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including health professionals and government agencies.
“This policy is part of a broader initiative by the Nigerian government to tackle migration issues and leverage the country’s potential, particularly its youthful population,” Pate stated. “While Nigeria trains nearly 17,000 health workers over the past five years, more than half have left. The policy aims to retain these professionals and encourage those abroad to return.”
The policy also seeks to mitigate the push factors prompting healthcare workers to leave and enhance the health system’s ability to retain talent. The government recognizes the continued need for Nigerian professionals abroad and is exploring ways to balance migration with domestic capacity building.
Further efforts include disbursing over N25 billion from the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to revitalize more than 8,000 primary healthcare centers and establishing world-class cancer and oncology centers in each of the six geopolitical zones.