The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has again raised concerns over the mass exodus of medical practitioners from the country, blaming poor pay, harsh working conditions, and inadequate manpower for the worsening brain drain in the health sector.
Speaking at the association’s 45th Annual General Meeting in Katsina on Wednesday, NARD President, Dr Tope Osundara, said migration among doctors had reached unprecedented levels, leaving critically ill patients with fewer professionals to cater to their needs.
“The constant quest for better living conditions always drives migration. In Nigeria, this is fueled by poor remuneration, exhaustive working conditions, and manpower shortages. This exodus has potentially increased the percentage of critically ill patients without adequate health care workforce to attend to them,” Osundara said.
He called for policies that prioritise incentives, fair salaries, and training to boost morale, reduce attrition, and enhance skills. According to him, there has been no collective bargaining agreement in over a decade to review doctors’ pay.
“It has been noted that the strongest reward to motivate health workers in Nigeria is the prompt payment of salaries and other financial incentives,” he added.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, who declared the AGM open, appealed to doctors to balance patriotism with financial demands. He pledged that his administration would continue to support the medical profession by improving healthcare infrastructure, particularly through functional primary health centres across the state.
“The importance of the medical profession is so much that every society needs it. It is important to also put patriotism ahead of remuneration because the critical role you play in saving lives requires compassion,” the governor said.
The NARD President, in his address, also appreciated members for their resilience, noting that despite the challenges, the association had made “giant strides in enhancing the welfare of Nardites.”
The warning comes against the backdrop of the association’s recent industrial action. On September 15, NARD suspended its five-day warning strike after just two days, granting the Federal Government a two-week grace period to meet its demands. The doctors are expected to reconvene on September 26 to decide on the next line of action.
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