Doctors in Nigeria have rejected a proposal by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, for physicians trained in Nigeria to work in the country for at least nine years before being allowed to migrate.
This is just as Sunday PUNCH observed that the number of Nigerian doctors practising in the United Kingdom had hit 8, 983 as of Saturday and is likely to hit 9,000 this week.
Ngige had during the 2022 budget defence of his ministry at the House of Representatives earlier in the week lamented the effect of brain drain on the health sector in relation to the low cost of medical education in the country.
According to the minister, medical workers trained by the government should be made to sign a bond that would make them serve the country for at least nine years before they can consider relocating to another country.
He had said, “Medical education in Nigeria is almost free. Where else in the world is it free? The Presidential Committee on Health should come with a proposal for bonding doctors, nurses, medical laboratory scientists and other health workers so that they don’t just carry their bags and walk out of their country at will when they are trained at no cost.
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“In London, it is £45,000 a session for medical education in universities. If you go to Edinburgh or Oxford, you pay $80,000. If you go to the USA you pay $45,000 but if you go to the Ivy leagues, you pay $90,000 for only tuition, excluding lodging. You do it for six years. So, people in America take loans.
“We can make provisions for loans and you pay back. If the government will train you for free, we should bond you. You serve the country for nine years before you go anywhere.”
But the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Guild of Medical Directors on Saturday faulted Ngige’s plan.
The immediate past president of MDCAN and a member of the National Executive Council of the Association, Prof. Ken Ekilo, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH faulted Ngige’s proposal about the bond.
According to Ekilo, lots of factors contribute to the brain drain being reported in the country and creating bonds won’t solve them.
He stated, “The minister’s suggestion shows a poor appreciation of the forces at play concerning brain drain in Nigeria. The Nigerian work environment is hostile to the medical doctors and the Nigerian security situation is hostile to Nigerian citizens. Infrastructure is poor, equipment is obsolete, drugs and supplies are out of stock, and the personnel are few, overworked and underpaid.
“There is no sense of job satisfaction, professional growth or commensurate financial reward. These are the push factors, the salaries being offered by the destination countries are irresistible, in addition to perks such as paid holidays, free education for children, sponsorship for training, conferences, and workshops all within the context of a stable society with functional social amenities. These are the pull factors.
“The idea of bonding doctors alone is faulty on several fronts. First, it is not only doctors that are trained at public expense, so the bond will have to be required of anyone who has passed through the public education system in Nigeria.”
He argued that the policy would send the wrong signal to workers, as it will indicate a failure of ideas on the part of government and a resort to coercion reminiscent of countries lacking in social liberty.
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The doctor argued the policy would encourage emigration through the backdoor and other illegal means would boom as would human trafficking.
“Lastly, the government cannot implement this without infringing on both the doctors’ fundamental human rights and the freedom guaranteed to citizens under the Nigerian constitution. I sympathise with the government, it is not an easy problem to solve and difficult decisions must be made,” Ekilo added.
Also, the National President of the Guild of Medical Directors, Prof. Olufemi Babalola, in a separate interview with Sunday PUNCH said the minister should not propose the idea of a bond seeing as he had said during an interview a while ago that there was no brain drain.
Babalola added, “This is not the way to curb brain drain in the country. I seem to recall that it was this same minister who said there was no brain drain some time ago. The fact that he is proposing this solution would suggest an acknowledgment on the part of the government that we do have a serious crisis on our hands.”
According to him, the average medical graduate seeks greener pastures abroad, not because they do not prefer to stay at home but because conditions are atrocious and salaries are scandalously low for the skill set they possess.
“A medical doctor in government employment in Nigeria today cannot afford to buy a new car. Not even a foreign-used car. That is the extent to which doctors have been debased in Nigeria. Let us address the issues and make the situation much more attractive and they will stay to serve their motherland. You can’t force them,” Babalola said.
The President, Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja chapter, Dr Azeez Ojekunle, said Ngige’s statement would increase the rate of brain drain in the country.
“We were looking forward to having a panacea for the long-standing massive brain drain, but quite unfortunate that response from such a stakeholder will only inevitably worsen the exodus in a rather geometric pattern.
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“Such proportion will cause exodus in the early medical career path which currently is more among practising medical doctors and will then progress to medical students who glaringly see the deplorable state of practising environment in the health care sector.
“Even right now, final year medical students are begging to write examination to exit the country as soon as upon completion of their housemanship,” Ojekunle said.
But the Joint Health Sector Union, which comprises all medical professionals who are not doctors, argued that the proposed policy ought not to apply to its members because only doctors received subsidised education.
The spokesperson for JOHESU, Olumide Akintayo, in an interview with Sunday PUNCH said only medical doctors enjoyed the subsidised medical education mentioned by the minister and should have no problem with the proposed bond.
He said, “It is only doctors who enjoy that privilege of subsidised medical education. It is not okay for the minister to include other health workers.”
Recently, there has been a surge in the number of medical doctors leaving the country.
Meanwhile, Sunday PUNCH observed that the number of Nigerian doctors in the UK had risen to 8,983 and is expected to surpass 9,000 this week going by the daily rate of four Nigerian doctors being licensed in the UK per day.
Checks by our correspondent showed that at least 264 doctors had been licensed by the UK General Medical Council in the last 53 days, an average of 4.6 Nigerian doctors per day.
A check on the website of the council showed that as regards the number of foreign doctors working in the UK, Nigeria comes third, only behind India and Pakistan which have 30,388 and 15, 962 doctors respectively operating in the UK.
The statistics also showed that between November 13, 2020, and November 12, 2021, the number of Nigerian-trained doctors in the UK had risen by 932.
Punch
5 reasons men need to eat pineapple before sexual intercourse
Sex ought to be an enjoyable activity, but many factors can get in the way of such enjoyment. Factors like low libido, lack of stamina, and erections can prevent such enjoyment. That’s why pineapples are so important. Many people believe it only benefits women, but it has many sexual benefits for men.
Pineapples are rich in manganese, an antioxidant that fights free radicals and prevents cellular damage. A manganese deficiency can lead to diseases like heart disease and diabetes, which are linked to erectile dysfunction. However, adequate manganese intake can increase blood flow and prevent infertility.
Pineapples are rich in bromelain, which increases testosterone production and provides many sexual benefits in bed. This hormone regulates libido and encourages nitric oxide oxidation which makes men more sexually active.
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Pineapples are also rich in vitamin C and thiamine which can increase low libido in men. Thiamine stimulates the development of sex hormones, and this is especially important when men can’t have an erection during sex.
Pineapple can help increase sexual stamina, especially for those who find themselves exhausted from sex. Sex requires endurance and stamina, with studies showing men can burn up to 101 calories in 30 minutes of sex. To enjoy bedroom fun without exercising, consider indulging in pineapples, which are rich in vitamins B1 and C, which can help increase sexual stamina.
Pineapple consumption before sex can enhance the taste of ejaculate by making it sweeter. This is due to the high levels of acid and sugar in pineapple, which make semen less bitter and more sweet. The primary benefit for partners is the added sweetness, in case they want to taste it.
Raw pineapple, rich in vitamin C, is an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system and prevents inflammation. Studies on rats have linked reduced inflammation to improved blood flow, which is important for sexual health.
This is because healthy blood flow is essential for achieving sexual arousal and erectile function for penetrative sex. This increased blood flow and higher blood pressure within the penis make the penis firm and erect.
Finally, a cup of pineapple or one pineapple finely chopped is enough; do not eat more than that, as it will have the opposite effect.
NAFDAC alerts to counterfeit Tandak injection in Nigeria
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians about the sale of counterfeit TANDAK injection 1.5g powder and water for injection, manufactured by Intracin Pharmaceuticals PVT. LTD C-1, B-53, G.I.D.C Estate, Nadiad- 387001, Gujarat, India.
A statement released by the agency on Wednesday, April 10, says the counterfeit product was discovered in Gombe State, Nigeria, and reported to the Agency by Marcson Healthcare Ltd. – the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH).
‘’Tandak® injection of 1.5g powder is a co-formulation of Ceftriaxone 1000mg and Sulbactam 500mg. It is prescribed for use in the treatment of various types of bacterial infections. It fights against micro organisms by preventing their growth, and further spread of the infection. Ceftriaxone+Sulbactam 1000mg/500mg Injection should only be administered under the supervision of a healthcare professional. the statement read
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The illegal marketing of counterfeit medicines poses a risk to the health of people, since by not complying with the regulatory provisions, the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.
NAFDAC has directed all its Zonal Directors and State Coordinators to carry out surveillance and mop up the counterfeit products within the Zones and States.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322 or send an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
NAFDAC recalls Benylin cough syrup
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has recalled Benylin Paediatrics Syrup manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, following recent toxicity findings in the laboratory on the product.
NAFDAC said laboratory analysis conducted on the product showed that it contains an unacceptable high level of Diethylene glycol and was found to cause acute oral toxicity in laboratory animals.
The agency disclosed this on its website on Wednesday.
A product recall is an important method of managing risks in response to product safety events and emergencies.
According to an online health portal, Science Direct, a product recall is a request to return to the maker, a batch, or an entire production run of a product, usually over safety concerns, design defects, or labelling errors.
“Benylin Paediatric syrup is indicated for the relief of cough and its congestive symptoms and for the treatment of hay fever and other allergic conditions in children aged two to 12 years.
“Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal. Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death,” it noted.
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The details of the product showed that the product is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson in Cape Town, South Africa.
With batch number 329304, the product was manufactured in May 2021, and it is to expire this month, April 2024.
NAFDAC, however, implored importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of substandard (contaminated) regulated products.
It said all medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.
“Anyone in possession of the above-mentioned product is advised to immediately discontinue the sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office. If you witness any adverse reaction/event after the use of this product in any children, you are advised to direct such patients to immediate medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of the medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” it added.
Meanwhile, the agency said it has directed the marketing authorisation holder (Johnson and Johnson company, West Africa) to initiate the recall of the batch and the notice will also be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System.
NAFDAC regulates and controls the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, packaged water, chemicals, and detergents.
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