The Federal Government has pledged to seamlessly reabsorb health experts returning to Nigeria after seeking opportunities abroad. This announcement came during the 11th Induction and Oath-taking Ceremony of foreign-trained Medical Laboratory Science graduates, organized by the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) in Abuja, where 396 graduates were inducted.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized the urgent need for patriotism among medical practitioners to counter the migration trend that has led to a significant shortage of healthcare personnel. Represented by his Senior Technical Assistant, Dr. Obi Ugbo, Alausa highlighted the severe impact of the exodus on the health sector, noting that the current workforce of 300,000 health professionals is insufficient for Nigeria’s population of over 200 million.
Alausa outlined the government’s commitment to improving the health sector through collaboration with stakeholders like the MLSCN. This includes initiatives to reabsorb returning health professionals and improve training and recruitment processes to address the personnel shortfall.
The induction of foreign-trained graduates, he noted, is part of the broader strategy to enhance the healthcare system by ensuring that these professionals meet local standards through retraining and examinations. This process aligns with international best practices and ensures that returning professionals are well-integrated into the local health system.
Prof. Tosan Erhabor, Registrar/CEO of MLSCN, reiterated the council’s commitment to fostering excellence and professionalism in Medical Laboratory Science. He also called for the establishment of a centralized internship pool to ease the transition for fresh graduates.
The Federal Government assured continued support for health regulatory agencies and urged them to align their policies with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu to overcome sectoral challenges.
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