https://nextedition.com.ng/2019/01/18/500-pathologists-nigeria-healthcare-sector-cnp/

Pathologists in Nigeria have cried out over the rising incidence of the fall in the number of pathologists working in the Nigerian healthcare sector and called for immediate action by government and all concerned, to help arrest the slide to avert imminent collapse of the care system.

Arising from their 13th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting which held recently in Lagos, the pathologists, operating under the auspices of College of Nigerian Pathologists (CNP), lamented that Nigeria, with a population of about 200 million, has not more than 500 pathologists working in its healthcare sector.

In a communique from the meeting signed by Dr. Kenneth Iregbu and Dr. Akeem Lawal, President and General Secretary (Acting) respectively, the pathologists said that with only about 500 pathologists, Nigeria has a ratio of one pathologist to about 400,000 persons. They said this is against the recommended standard of one pathologist to about 40,000 persons.

They argued that with the trend, Nigeria would need about 500 years to reach the pathologist-patient ratio as currently obtained in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

They, however, lamented that though the pathologists-patient ratio in Nigeria is embarrassing, the government had dilly-dallied in filling existing vacancies for pathologists in public health institutions.

“The meeting noted with sadness the fast dwindling number of residents in training, especially in pathology, due to refusal or reluctance of hospital managements to fill the numerous existing vacancies for Pathology Residency Training in almost all the accredited institutions in Nigeria with the Pathology disciplines worst affected. This has led to unimaginable frustrations in these disappointed young doctors. Nigeria has about 500 practising pathologists serving a population of about 200 million translating to a ratio of about one pathologist to 400,000 persons as against the standard of one pathologist to 20,000 persons. This ratio of pathologists to population is less than 10% of that in the United States and the United Kingdom, and estimates show that at the current rate of education and training in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, it could take up to 500 years for the number of pathologists per 1000 population to reach that of US or UK.

“The CNP calls on the Federal Ministry of Health to as a matter of urgent national importance direct all accredited hospitals to immediately fill all vacant residency positions, especially in pathology,” the communique read in part.

The College of Nigerian pathologists also lamented the exodus of qualified medical personnel from the country, urging the government to put attractive measures in place to lure the medic to stay back.

It warned that the rate of the exodus of medical personnel was also endangering quality healthcare delivery in the country.

A state of Emergency needs to b declared in health sector... Jus imagine dis embarrassing statistic but we keep losing our best minds and personnel to Canada and the US

Let us be realistic, Healthcare professionals in Nigeria will keep on leaving to greener pastures because that's just the way it is in every third world country. We can't blame them, my company is based in the UK and the doctors their earn from £55,000 to £100,000 annually. Incase you still don't understand, they earn roughly between N1.5 million to N3 million roughly in a month when converted to Naira and that's after tax.

Regards
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