The House of Representatives has given assurance that arrangements are underway to reduce the mass exodus of health workers to foreign lands in search of greener pastures.
The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Amos Magaji made this known during a visit to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The chairman said his committee is currently exploring ways to improve remunerations and other incentives for workers in the health sector.
Magaji said that the new strategies will not only cater for the doctors and nurses but that the entire health workers in the country will be able to work and proudly go back home to take care of their families.
He described the prevailing condition of things in the health sector as serious and precarious, adding, “We are having a serious challenge in the healthcare industry and we must do everything possible to make sure that we develop our institutions and infrastructure without forgetting the health workers.”
Magaji, however, disclosed that a bill that will elongate the retirement age of many Nigerian workers, including those in the health sector from the current 60 to 65 years was already before the House of Representatives.
The CMD had earlier solicited the intervention of the committee for the completion of some ongoing projects, especially the maternity Building complex and Radiotherapy building.
Though about 1,197 Nigerian-trained doctors were licensed between May 29, 2023, and December 1, 2023, the total number of Nigerian doctors licensed to practice in the UK now stands at 12,198.
