Diaspora Doctors petition National Assembly over anti-migration bill

,,,,An umbrella body of Nigerian medical doctors and dentists practising outside the country, the Diaspora Medical Associations, has petitioned the National Assembly over the bill seeking to compel medical and dental graduates to render five-year compulsory services within Nigeria before being granted full licence to practise.

,,,,The letter titled ‘Re: A position statement from diaspora medical associations – Bill seeking to restrict newly-qualified medical doctors and dentists from leaving Nigeria,’ was dated April 11, 2023.

The letter made available to newsmen on Wednesday was addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

,,,,The body also copied the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe; and the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Dr Tanko Sununu.

The letter was signed by the President, the Nigerian Doctors’ Forum, South Africa, Dr Emeka Ugwu; the President, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Dr Chinyere Anyaogu; the President, Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain, Dr Chris Agbo; the President, Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists, Dr Nnamdi Ndubuka; and the President, Nigerian Medical Association-Germany, Dr Al Amin Dahiru.

,,,The DMA said the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Amendment) Bill sponsored by Ganiyi Johnson, which passed second reading at the House of Representatives last week, was counterproductive and would not achieve its intended goal of addressing brain drain in the country.

,,,,,The associations also said focusing on one aspect of a problem without taking a holistic approach to a sustainable solution would be ineffective.

The doctors called on the Speaker to embrace the purposeful systemic solution and ensure that a ‘quick fix’ attempt does not worsen the situation.

,,,,,The doctors also pledged to support positive changes, and growth of the health sector to stop and reverse the brain drain.