Friday, 19 July 2024 04:57

‘For every 5 psychiatric doctors trained in Nigeria, 3 leave to practise abroad’, union president laments

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Taiwo Obindo, the president of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), says more than 100 psychiatrists have left the country to practise abroad in one year.

Obindo said the psychiatric profession is the worst hit by the brain drain syndrome ongoing in the Nigerian medical sector.

He said for every five psychiatric doctors trained in Nigeria, three of them leave the country to practise abroad.

He said healthcare institutions abroad are looking for individuals with psychiatric qualifications and are ready to offer them good and enticing remuneration.

Obindo added that while Nigeria can train medical personnel, it cannot maintain, retain and sustain them.

“Many practitioners in the psychiatric field have left the country to practise abroad, though the exact figure may not be there,” NAN quoted Obindo as saying.

“But I can categorically state that more than 100 trained psychiatric doctors have left to practise abroad in the last one year.

“In fact, for every five psychiatric doctors trained in Nigeria, three of them leave the country to practise abroad.

“As I am talking to you now, one psychiatric practitioner somewhere is leaving or planning to leave the country to practise abroad, and it is as rampant and bad as that.”

Also speaking, Olugbenga Owoeye, the chief medical director (CMD) of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, said the brain drain in the hospital has resulted in a drastic reduction in manpower.

He said the hospital has resolved to train more doctors to close the vacuum created by the constant migration of psychiatric practitioners overseas.

He expressed optimism that the migration of health workers to other countries to practise would eventually stop someday.

“One thing to note is that with time, this movement will become saturated, and it will stop,” he said.

“I can recall that sometimes in the 80s, a lot of people were migrating to Saudi Arabia in search of greener pastures; now most of them are back home; they are old and are retiring.”

 

The Cable

April 03, 2025

Oil prices sink after Trump announced sweeping new tariffs

Oil prices dropped $2 on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on…
April 02, 2025

Natasha outsmarts Kogi govt, Police; ‘drops’ from sky to jubilant crowds

In a spectacular display of defiance, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan turned the Kogi State Government and…
March 30, 2025

Does wearing a cap make you go bald? Here’s what dermatologists want you to know about hair loss

Hair loss can be an upsetting and worrisome experience. But with a slew of wellness…
March 30, 2025

Two 'proof of heaven' stories and one 'proof of hell' that had atheist calling out…

Ole Braatelien What happens to our consciousness the moment we die? Christians believe our souls…
April 02, 2025

Ponzi schemes: New law slams 10-year jail term, N40m fine - SEC

Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finally declared war on Ponzi schemes, with a…
April 03, 2025

What to know after Day 1134 of Russia-Ukraine war

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE Putin conscripts 160K men as Russia eyes Ukraine offensive Russia has initiated its…
March 28, 2025

Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI will replace many doctors and teachers—humans won’t be needed…

Tom Huddleston Jr. Over the next decade, advances in artificial intelligence will mean that humans…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.