• Medical Jobs
+234 909 1403 251
HealthFlex
×
  • Home
  • Medical Courses
    • Bioinformatics
    • Social Work
    • Veterinary Medicine
    • Public Health
    • Pharmacy
    • Nursing
    • Medical Laboratory Science
    • General Medicine
    • Dentistry
    • Clinical Psychology
    • Chemistry
    • Biology
  • Medical Study
    • Medical Study Program in Canada for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in China for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Germany for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Lithuania for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Philippines for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Romania for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Russia for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Turkey for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in UK for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in Ukraine for Nigerian Students
    • Medical Study Program in USA for Nigerian Students
  • Blog/News
  • Latest Offers
  • Gallery
  • Contact

Why Nigerian Doctors Grab Opportunities Abroad

Why Nigerian Doctors Grab Opportunities Abroad
July 3, 2019Peter DareNews

In a recent encounter with a Nigerian doctor, when in hospital recovering from an illness, it emerged the owner of the soothing voice that aided one’s convalescence was unhappy. Not with her patient – a challenging case no less – but with her career in her country of birth.

And she is one of the more fortunate ones. As a doctor in a private hospital in a highbrow area of Lagos, she was relatively well-paid. And judging from what one garners from those long hours of forced idleness when admitted in hospital, this particular hospital gets a number of cases.

Imagine the irony: whereas the individual hopes to suffer less afflictions, if at all, the doctor’s joy comes from a case worth his or her time. The more complicated, the better. Still, a doctor’s experience, even in the best teaching hospital in the country, pales in comparison to that of lesser professionals in Europe and elsewhere.

Money is also a huge motivating factor. Still, whether in the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States (US), the experience does not always turn out as dreamed of. Racism is usually a problem. And career mistakes are punished severely. Nonetheless, those with some training in these parts (West Africa) beforehand are able to easily bank on a coping mechanism honed during their grinding student days.

Whereas other professionals, in financial services, law, and so on, could easily keep abreast of developments in their sectors, whether they are in their country or abroad, the peculiarities of the medical profession and rapid technological advances in the sector mean practitioners not adept in the most advanced and recent practices would find themselves no more than quacks over time.

Ironically, being initially trained in Nigeria allows for mastery in the old-school ways of medicine that tend to come in handy where practitioners have become “spoilt” with various technological aids. And in fact, the continent is wealthier by the experience garnered by its medical professionals abroad, who often give back in the form of free surgeries and so on.

How many Nigerian doctors actually seek greener pastures abroad? More than 60% of registered Nigerian doctors practice abroad. Most of the remainder who grudgingly ply their trade locally plan to cross the seas at the slightest opportunity. And despite the backlash against migrants in Europe and elsewhere, doctors and other advanced professionals are actively courted. Not entirely. The UK put a cap on the migration of skilled non-EU workers recently. Short of medical staff, the government has reversed itself. Now, migrant doctors with firm offers from UK hospitals do not have to worry about getting a visa: they will get placed. No doubt music to the ears of many aspiring Nigerian doctors.

The exodus comes at great costs for the country, though. There is one doctor for about 4,000 Nigerians at the moment. With more doctors heading abroad, that statistic would only get worse by the day. Quality healthcare is out of the reach of those that need it the most. The privileged, who can afford healthcare anywhere in the world, are ironically the ones with the means to avail themselves of the best locally.

To be fair, the authorities are not insensitive to the problem. A compulsory health insurance scheme for Nigerians in paid employment means almost anyone with a job would be able to afford basic and secondary medical care. Of course, it is another matter if the ailment is more advanced and requires extensive, sustained care; and perhaps more abroad. A newly-instituted patients’ bill of rights also means that any Nigerian, of any means, would not be subject to the gross abuse that many poor patients, who also tend to be ignorant of their rights, get subjected to with impunity. What would prevail in practice is another matter, though.

During my recent forced interaction with the medical world, each stage of treatment was presaged by a business executive brandishing a point-of-sale terminal: swipe your card, get treated. Quality medical care in Nigeria remains exclusive.

Add Comment Cancel


Recent Posts

  • Why Should You Choose Turkey For Medical Treatment?
  • The Requirements and Steps of Applying to Medical Schools in Turkey in 2023
  • 7 Jobs in the Medical Field That Pays Well
  • Entry Requirements for Medical Schools in Europe, US and the UK
  • Explore These Countries if you are Considering Birth Tourism

Recent Comments

  • AGNES JOSEPH on Pathways to Canada Permanent Residence
  • Anita Musa on Pathways to Canada Permanent Residence
  • Anita Musa on Canadian Open Work Permit Requirements
  • AGNES JOSEPH on Exploring Medical Careers Abroad
  • Anita Musa on Exploring Medical Careers Abroad

Archives

  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • September 2015

Categories

  • Latest Offers
  • Medical Abroad
  • Medical Conference
  • Medical Jobs
  • Medical Tourism
  • News
  • Study abroad
  • Uncategorized

Categories

  • Latest Offers
  • Medical Abroad
  • Medical Conference
  • Medical Jobs
  • Medical Tourism
  • News
  • Study abroad
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • September 2015

Text Widget

Fugiat dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, mauesris condime ntum nibh, ut fermentum mas justo sitters amet risus. Cras mattis cosi sectetut amet fermens etrsaters tum aecenas faucib sadips amets.

Calendar

July 2019
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Sep   Aug »

Medical Travel is a Nigerian based specialized medical platform that assist Individuals with medical education and treatments.

+234 909 1403 251, +234 803 4383 061

info@medicaltravel.ng

Office: i172, Road 5, Ikota Shopping Complex, VGC, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.

Quick Links

  • Contact
  • Medical Study
  • Medical Jobs
  • Medical Tourism
  • FAQ

Latest News

  • Ectopic Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors Nov 16

    In an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg fails to implant...

  • Brain Diseases: Categories, Causes and Symptoms Nov 14

    The nervous system – compromised of the brain, spinal cord...

  • Symptoms Associated With Rheumatoid Arthritis Nov 11

    Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder, in which the body’s...

Copyright ©2019 all rights reserved
Designed by Webplanet Consulting & Services