Dr Orji Innocent, the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in Nigeria has expressed shock over the alarming rate of doctors who have left the country to seek greener pastures.
According to Dr. Innocent, the association has lost over 2000 members in the last two years to Japa syndrome.
The president of NARD added that if the situation is not tackled, the menace will degenerate to a point where the country will start experiencing scarcity of doctors and other medical personnel.
Dr. Innocent raised the concern on Saturday while fielding questions from journalists after the presentation of a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s conference in Uyo.
He said a survey conducted in December revealed that over 2,000 members left for greener pastures.
Meanwhile, in the communiqué, the association called for increased budgetary funding of the healthcare sector in the country, to the tune of 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation to improve the quality of healthcare delivery.
“NEC calls for increased funding of the healthcare sector in the country, to the tune of 15 per cent annual budgetary allocation in line with the 2001 Abuja Declaration for healthcare financing in Africa and global best practices as well as the digitalization of the healthcare services to improve the quality of healthcare delivery to Nigerian citizens.”
The President said NEC urged the Chief Medical Directors of tertiary hospitals in the country to take responsibility for security in their various hospitals as NARD would no longer continue to watch her members being assaulted by staff members, patients, relatives or security operatives.
He said the association called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of the illegal shooting of one of its members in Delta and to ensure they are adequately punished to serve as a deterrent to others.
