The Nigerian Medical Students' Association @NiMSA_Nigeria strongly opposes the recently proposed bill to mandate Nigerian-trained medical or dental practitioners to practice in Nigeria for a minimum of five years before being granted a full license to practice.

This bill, sponsored by Rep. Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson is unpatriotic, ill-timed and a breach of the fundamental human right of doctors as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria as amended.

This bill is aimed at strangulating the medical profession and making mockery of her autonomy.

The reason given by Rep. Johnson for sponsoring this bill will end up achieving the direct opposite as the bill seeks to enslave Nigerian trained doctors and paralyze the health care system. The search for greener pastures abroad can be reduced by making our land and pasture green, properly equipping our hospitals, better treatment for doctors and the brain drain will be adequately controlled. Rep. Johnson at this point should be steering conversations on medical tourism and not doctor slavery.

We firmly believe that this bill is not the solution to the problem of brain drain, and we stand against it in its entirety in the strongest possible terms.

The intention behind the sponsorship of this bill does not take into consideration the root causes of brain drain in Nigeria. The issue of brain drain is multifaceted and requires a more comprehensive approach to tackle it.

Instead of trying to forcefully take doctors as slaves, the lawmakers should be focusing on creating an enabling environment that encourages doctors to stay and work in Nigeria. The lack of infrastructure, inadequate and inappropriate remuneration, and poor working conditions are some of the major factors driving medical professionals away from Nigeria. These issues need to be addressed if we want to attract and retain our healthcare professionals; make our land green.

We also believe that the bill is a violation of the fundamental human rights of medical professionals and should not see the light of the day. The government has no right to force doctors to work in a particular location against their will- it is an affront to their autonomy and choice. We also unequivocally state that this bill will discourage students from pursuing medical education in Nigeria, which will further exacerbate the problem of the shortage of healthcare professionals.

A better way to bring up the issue of being trained with “tax payer subsidies” would be to have it optional, the option of paying for medical education at the real cost value, the option of obtaining student loans and also the option of going for the subsidized medical education with the caveat of staying behind for a certain number of years to “pay back”. Besides, not all Doctors in the country are trained on subsidy; one thing the bill failed to capture. Doctors need to have a choice, even before they start their training so they can make better informed decisions.

Additionally, we strongly believe that the bill is arbitrary in nature and totally unconstitutional- it deprives the Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners of their fundamental right to freedom of movement by arbitrarily imposing restrictions on their movements against the provision of Section 41 the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In conclusion, @NiMSA_Nigeria vehemently opposes this bill in part and in one whole. We call on the sponsor of the bill to withdraw it with immediate effect and seek better ways of finding a lasting solution to the problem of brain drain by consultative collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the health sector coupled with the government's willingness to address the root causes and underlying issues that drive healthcare professionals away from Nigeria.

The Nigerian medical students’ association, is eager for a better health system hence, our willingness to work with the government, as we have always done, to find lasting solutions to the issues plaguing the healthcare system.

The health sector is essential to the growth and development of our nation, and we must take steps to ensure that our healthcare professionals stay and contribute to the growth of our country.

We say *NO* to this bill,
Rather, make our land and pasture green.

Ejim Egba,
NiMSA President

https://twitter.com/NiMSA_Nigeria/status/1644103703643791360?t=0RcYbEkErW8YYUIVFZktgQ&s=19

Previous thread https://www.nairaland.com/7643700/bill-prevent-medical-doctors-getting

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They should go and sch in UK/US then,majority of the medical students can't afford to sch abroad,fed govt is subsidising education for them for the betterment of NIG citizens not UK/US/Saudi

Ok

The person dat sponsor dat bill his brain 🧠🧠 should be drained into river Nigeria

There are arguments for and against the bill but I'll tilt towards the Reps.
If you desire to practice in UK or US as a medical practitioner why not school there and pay huge fees for your training?
Why get your education in Nigeria with taxpayers money and end up not being useful for Nigeria?
The hospitals in Nigeria aren't equipped ;Yes. So also the airports, seaports, the roads are bad etc but if the country manages to train you to become a doctor it behoves on you to manage to practice there.

PS:
The same law should be applied to Agricultural Economists, Land Surveyors etc the day we start having shortage of those professionals in Nigeria.

Good one by NIMSA
....
All my life, i never imagined we had such a vast army of supporters of evil in Nigeria until now.
I'm talking about everyone and anyone who is in support of the just concluded sham called the 2023 general elections that produced Tinubu. SHAME ON YOU!! No wise man drinks poison because it was served with his tribal cup.

Just know that the evil you support today will bite you hard later in the future, if not you, your children.

UK should start giving scholarship to our medical students, instead of taking our doctors

no way nau

CAN WE ALSO HAVE A BILL THAT STOPS POLITICIANS FROM GOING ABROAD FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT?

An important bill! The US does the same through the ~7 years RESIDENCY programme that is Mandatory for anyone that wants to be a practicing doctor.

Looks like most people now want to go study medicine in Nigerian universities so as to be able to run away the next year after graduation!

That's not to take away from the need for the Government to provide proper financial compensations and facilities for our doctors!!!

This set of legislators under the current leadership of rubberstamp senate president cum House of rep leader are the most useless in the history of this country. Both are very clueless and backward in thinking.

Na so quack go full everywhere. I just pray they and their family should fall victim of the aftermath of their useless bill

Hmmm

Orisirisi

Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson

Thank God thr clown was voted out of the house of rep this election.

They never do anything sensible in the house. Only God knows people who vote these clowns into power

See these fools that the government is subsidising their education.

Let them pass this bill quickly and only exclude students of Private Universities from it.

Let them introduce student loans for those interested on becoming doctors. So, instead of working for 5 years, they can pay off student loans if they get the funds before 5 years.

Then, let politicians be banned from receiving medical care abroad. Let them stay here and ensure the services of these young doctors.

U guys should also endeavor to oppose payment of medical residency training fund oo.



If u want govt to assist you to fund ur medical training, u must ready to give back to that society before you japa.

They will not fix the hospital but rather but games

Like I said, the solution is for FG to convert subsidy public school trained graduates enjoy into loans and allow them work anywhere they feel they can repay from.

The govt sponsors other professionals that go through the public school system also, so singling out the medical practitioners alone is cleary unfair.

Good one . Our leaders are very selfish and self centered. Their kids are abroad having the best life and medical care but they don’t want to common man to have same

Don’t mind the demonic party and demonic government of APC. Always looking for ways to suffer it’s citizens the more. You don’t want to improve the health sector and you don’t want doctors to leave the country . Are you not a demon?

Hmm

Valid point