President Goodluck Jonathan restores one-year overseas training for medical doctors

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday restored one-year compulsory foreign residency training for doctors with a view towards increasing the quality of Nigerian doctors and stopping the outward flow of Nigerian medical tourists.

The new initiative was disclosed by the President during the 29th annual congress and convocation of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria at Ijanikin, Lagos. The President was represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu at a ceremony that was graced by stakeholders in the health sector, including  President of the College, Prof. L. I D Kufeji, Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Lagos Dr. Yewande Jinadu among others.

Expressing concern at the frequent resort to strike action by resident doctors, he charged the fellows of the college to urgently address the indiscipline in residency training currently in the country, saying it is unacceptable to the Federal Government. “We want you to ensure that patients do not suffer because of negligence. Nigerian doctors are respected all over the world and we don’t expect less here in Nigeria. Nigerian doctors are now fast losing their respect due to incessant industrial action. We intend to check this and the menace of brain drain”.

so. . . . . . . . . .

did it ever happen?