Dr. Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi, CEO of Wellington Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Abuja, has urged the Nigerian government to create an enabling environment to retain trained health professionals. This call aims to mitigate the escalating brain drain in the country's health sector. Ugwuanyi made this statement during an interview at the Healthcare Entrepreneurship Expo organised by the AfriHealth Development Foundation in Abuja. The expo's theme was "Healthcare Entrepreneurship: Building a Bankable Health Workforce Through Entrepreneurship and Mentorship."
Ugwuanyi lamented the continuous exodus of medical personnel from Nigeria, noting that substantial resources invested in their training are wasted when they emigrate. He emphasized that the government invests heavily in training doctors and allied healthcare professionals, only to have them leave in search of better opportunities. This exodus, he believes, is preventable if the government creates a conducive environment for them to stay and serve the country's expanding population.
Having worked in England for over 10 years before returning to Nigeria, Ugwuanyi described himself as a product of "reverse japa." He stressed that better conditions of service would encourage Nigerian health professionals abroad to return and contribute to the system. According to Ugwuanyi, those who have emigrated will naturally return if they find better working conditions in Nigeria. This, he believes, is the starting point for addressing the "reverse japa syndrome."
Ugwuanyi highlighted the need for private-sector investment in the health sector, noting that healthcare entrepreneurs take immense risks to bridge gaps in service delivery amid challenging economic conditions. He also emphasized the necessity of mentorship to guarantee the survival of medical institutions. According to Ugwuanyi, mentorship is crucial for ensuring a constant supply of skilled professionals to replace older generations when they retire.
The neurosurgeon advised young practitioners to approach healthcare entrepreneurship as a long-term commitment requiring resilience, patience, and continuous professional development. He noted that clinical medicine is dynamic, with new developments emerging daily. Therefore, young professionals must constantly invest in skills acquisition to remain relevant. Ugwuanyi urged healthcare entrepreneurs to strike a delicate balance between quality service delivery and reasonable remuneration for service providers.
Ugwuanyi's call for an enabling environment to retain health workers comes at a time when Nigeria is facing a significant brain drain in the health sector. The country has invested heavily in training medical professionals, only to have them emigrate in search of better opportunities. The government's inability to retain these professionals has resulted in a shortage of skilled healthcare workers, compromising the quality of healthcare services in the country.
The Healthcare Entrepreneurship Expo, where Ugwuanyi made his remarks, aimed to promote healthcare entrepreneurship and mentorship in Nigeria. The event brought together stakeholders in the health sector to discuss ways to build a bankable health workforce through entrepreneurship and mentorship. Ugwuanyi's remarks at the expo underscore the need for a multi-faceted approach to addressing the brain drain in Nigeria's health sector, including government action and private-sector investment.
Key points
- Dr. Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi urges the Nigerian government to create an enabling environment to retain trained health professionals.
- The health expert emphasizes the need for private-sector investment and mentorship to guarantee the survival of medical institutions.
- Ugwuanyi advises young practitioners to approach healthcare entrepreneurship as a long-term commitment requiring resilience, patience, and continuous professional development.
