The National Hospital Abuja says the health sector’s brain drain has reduced its workforce from 3,000 to 2,500.
This is despite its 25 years of medical breakthroughs and significant staff expansion, Muhammad Raji, its chief medical director, said in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr Raji highlighted the hospital’s achievements and ongoing impact amid the staffing challenges.
Reflecting on the hospital’s growth over its 25-year history, the CMD said it began operations with a few staff members, offering limited services primarily for women and children.
He mentioned that the hospital now had no fewer than 2,500 workforces, pointing out, “If was not for the brain drain affecting our workforce, we would be talking about 3,000 today,” he added.
Mr Raji recalled that years ago, many Nigerians left for the Middle East for better opportunities, a trend that had recently resurfaced.
“The migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria to other countries has reached alarming levels, posing challenges for maintaining adequate staffing in Nigerian hospitals.
“It’s not easy to get as many healthcare workers as we need, especially with the increasing number of professionals migrating abroad,” he noted.
However, he said he was hopeful about reversing the trend through innovative collaborations with the Nigerian diaspora.
“The hospital has established partnerships allowing Nigerian medical professionals working abroad to return on a rotational basis.
“These professionals spend two weeks here and then return at their convenience, benefiting them and our healthcare system,” he explained.
He urged the government and private sector to create a conducive working environment to encourage more healthcare workers to stay or return to Nigeria.
Mr Raji also underscored the hospital’s pioneering achievements, including being the first in Africa to have an Alinach Machine and leading in Nigeria for Invitro Fertilisation (IVF).
“Notable milestones include separating conjoined twins, performing the first open brain surgery with the patient fully awake, and pioneering treatments for chronic arthritis and brain surgeries.
“The hospital also celebrated the birth of sextuplets, all of whom survived,” he said.