The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is concerned about Jigawa’s doctor shortage, with one doctor every 21,000 patients.
On Saturday to celebrate 2023 Physicians Week, state NMA Chairman Dr. Aminu Abdullahi said, “Jigawa has the highest record of brain drain in the country.”
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The WHO recommends one doctor for 600 individuals, according to NAN.
Thus, the chairman criticized brain drain in the state, which committed 16% of its 2023 budget to health.
The unfortunate development worries the association, he said.
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We have a bi-directional bran drain to other states of federation and beyond the country.
About 350 doctors work in state and federal hospitals.
“The NMA Jigawa chapter has 350 doctors serving seven million people.
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Jigawa has a doctor/patient ratio of 1: 21,000, compared to the WHO norm of 1/600.
This percentage is similar to state nurses and other health personnel. Our health indicators will suffer from one of the worst ratios in the nation.
Jigawa was one of the first states to introduce CONMESS and CONHESS wage structures for healthcare workers in 2011, making it one of the highest-paid states.
“The current health sector challenges require sincere, deliberate, and fact-based discussions about our healthcare delivery system.
“There is no better time to make the healthcare delivery system in our dear state more efficient and responsive than now,” given the nation’s economic situation.
The NMA chairman said the 2023 Pysicians Week subject, “This is our chance to get it right in the health sector” and its sub-themes, “The Abuja Declaration 22 years after” and “Ethical issues in human organ donation” reflect contemporary health sector realities.
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