By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s President has approved a new policy aiming to address the challenges facing the country’s health human resources, particularly mass exodus of workers in the sector to other parts of the world.
President Bola Tinubu approved the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration in Abuja.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate in a social media post said the policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals.
The Minister said the policy is a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration.
In the post on Monday, Pate said, “This afternoon, HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR @officialABAT, in-Council, approved a landmark policy set to transform healthcare human resource management in Nigeria.
“The National Policy on Health Workforce Migration addresses the critical challenges facing Nigeria’s health human resources. As the AU Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership, Mr President’s commitment to a resilient and robust healthcare system is powerfully reflected in this forward-looking policy.
“This policy is more than just a response to the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals; it’s a comprehensive strategy to manage, harness, and reverse health worker migration. It envisions a thriving workforce that is well-supported, adequately rewarded, and optimally utilised to meet the healthcare needs of all Nigerians.”
Heritage Times HT reports that several Nigerian healthcare workers have been leaving the country in droves apparently in search for an enhanced work environment.
Back home in the Africa’s most populous country, they contend with several factors, including poor pay, extended call hours, outdated work tools delayed wages.
Central to this vision according to the Minister is the Nigeria Human Health Resource Programme, which sets a framework for regular reviews of working conditions, ensuring that health workers, especially in rural and underserved areas, receive the recognition and rewards they deserve.
“By fostering an environment conducive to professional growth and stability, the policy aims to retain top talent within Nigeria.
“In an increasingly digital world, integrating advanced health technologies is essential. The policy’s focus on digital health infrastructure—including Electronic Medical Records, telehealth, and a comprehensive Health Workforce Registry—marks a significant step towards a more efficient, data-driven health system. These innovations will streamline healthcare delivery and enhance the equitable distribution of health workers, ensuring access to quality care for all Nigerians.
“Capacity building is at the heart of this policy. It recognises the importance of continuous professional development, with strategic partnerships and opportunities for international training to equip our healthcare professionals with cutting-edge skills. This investment in human capital underscores our commitment to retaining and empowering our healthcare workforce,” he stated.
He added that the policy addresses the return and reintegration of Nigerian health professionals from the Diaspora.
He said by establishing streamlined registration processes and providing attractive incentives, the policy not only encourages the return of talented professionals but actively reintegrates them into the health system.
“This approach leverages the expertise of our diaspora to bridge gaps within the health sector. Also, the policy champions reciprocal agreements with other nations to ensure that the exchange of health workers benefits Nigeria. These bilateral and multilateral agreements are designed to protect national interests while respecting the rights and aspirations of our healthcare professionals. We call on recipient countries to implement a 1:1 match—training one worker to replace every publicly trained Nigerian wo
