Over 2,000 Nigerian doctors left for Europe, S/Arabia, Canada in 6 months – Official

The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), on Tuesday, said over 2,000 doctors had left Nigeria for Europe, Saudi Arabia and Canada as of June this year. 

The president of the association, Dr Noel Dokun, said this in Abuja during the National Executive Council meeting of the association.

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He said the doctors left for countries where their services were better appreciated, especially Britain.

“But in Nigeria, they are poorly remunerated and at times not paid for months in some states , with salaries up to 25 months unpaid in some instances,” he said.

He emphasized the need for the federal government to adopt homegrown solutions to brain drain, monkeypox and other epidemics as well as other challenges bedeviling the health sector.

Dr Stephanie Oni-Ogunbor, the keynote speaker at the event, noted that the impact of monkeypox on the economy was enormous, saying increased sensitization about the disease amongst the populace would help to prevent the  disease.