The Ondo State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has lamented the increasing brain drain impacting Nigeria’s health sector, stressing that a solution lies in implementing the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) uniformly across all healthcare levels.
The NMA Chairman, Dr Olumuyiwa Alonge, voiced his concerns, describing the exodus of healthcare professionals as “a consequence of a system that has failed to offer fair compensation and career fulfilment.”
At a press conference on Monday to mark the annual Physicians’ Week in Ondo State, Alonge explained that “when healthcare professionals are remunerated fairly and equitably, they feel valued and respected, thus strengthening their commitment and dedication to patient care.”
With the theme “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare System,” the week also focused on managing infectious diseases and early breast cancer detection.
“We urge all levels of government to ensure the uniform implementation of our salary structure, the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), across all healthcare levels,” said Alonge.
He also appealed for “the prompt payment of all outstanding arrears related to salary upgrades, including the new minimum wage.”
Alonge noted the distressing trend of skilled healthcare professionals leaving Nigeria for better opportunities abroad, was affecting Ondo State.
“In recent years, we have observed an alarming trend: our most experienced and skilled healthcare professionals, the lifeblood of our healthcare system, are leaving Nigeria for opportunities abroad, and our dear state is not spared,” he stated.
“This mass exodus, known as brain drain, is not merely a symptom of individual decisions; it is a consequence of a system that has failed to offer compensation and career fulfilment.”
