Nigerian Medical Doctors Abroad Give FG Conditions To Return Home

Some of the conditions include granting of low interest loans and high reduction in tariff of transportation of medical equipment into the country.

But in a swift response, the Nigerian Senate advised them to seek their request of granting low interest loans from the governments of America and the United Kingdom because Nigeria lacks the financial strength to handle it.

The medical practitioners under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), said they had intentions of moving their trade back home given what they called “ineffective medical health care” in Nigeria but were prevented by the issues listed.

The medical doctors, who spoke during a courtesy call on the Senate Committee on Health, through their National President, Nkem Chukwumerije, said they although they desire to return and work for their fatherland, they lamented that the government was not doing enough to encourage their relocation.

Chukwumerije further listed some of the problems hindering their return to include; poor remuneration, inadequate modern equipment to work with, and lack of low interest loans for those who want to set up medical facilities in Nigeria, among others.

He said, “The major barrier preventing the relocation of medical doctors back to Nigeria is incentive. Every human character and behaviour are linked to incentives. Some of the incentives to get back the medical doctors abroad to Nigeria, are not in place.

“Most of us here love our country and our hearts are in Nigeria but we just have to be physically at another country but we are very passionate about improving healthcare system here but the incentives especially finance, remuneration sends people out and force them to remain abroad.

“Another thing is lack of proper equipment to work with. Most people abroad honestly wants to come back but to physically relocate, we will need the right financial incentives.

“The Federal Government should provide low interest loans for healthcare, so that medical practitioners abroad could bring their money and have access to low interest loans.

“Majority of our people wanted to come back home but they cannot finance the relocation process and the cost of setting up modern medical facilities in Nigeria. To bring in medical equipment is expensive because of the customs tariff and other fees.

“Government need to reduce the tariff so that our people can bring in the equipment. The government should also give us the opportunity to work in a structured arrangements with the federal, states and local governments, and also with private sector without barriers”, he said.