Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of National Hospital, Abuja, (NHA), Mahmoud Raji has disclosed that more than 500 workers have left the hospital in search of better opportunities over the past two years.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, Raji expressed concern about the departure of healthcare professionals emphasising the significant government investment in their training.
“The way they leave is a very hurtful thing for all hospital administrators. Nigeria is losing so much, painfully,” lamented Raji.
He highlighted the departure of medical engineers, senior doctors, and middle cadre nurses.
The CMD cited remuneration and job satisfaction as the primary reasons for the healthcare brain drain.
Raji acknowledged the government’s efforts to address healthcare challenges but stressed the need for improvements in working conditions.
“The unsolved problem of inter-professional rivalry eats into people’s psyche. People should be comfortable with the next person they’re working with,” he said.
Despite challenges, the CMD outlined strategies employed by NHA to retain healthcare personnel, including setting up cooperatives, collaborating with mortgage organizations, and addressing equipment issues. While he acknowledged the limitations in changing government-regulated remuneration.
Raji expressed hope for a positive shift in the mindset of healthcare professionals.
“Hopefully, we should even be able to attract them to come back while we retain the ones here,” Raji concluded, highlighting the hospital’s commitment to fostering a conducive work environment and addressing key retention challenges”.
