HEALTH- Nigeria Medical Association Lagos chapter has called on the government to declare a state of emergency on health care as regards brain drain and health care delivery in the country.
President of the Nigeria Medical Association Lagos chapter Doctor Benjamin Olowojebutu made this known in an interview with our Correspondent in Lagos.
He stressed that brain drain has affected the quality of healthcare delivery in the country and every cadre in the medical department are leaving the country from medical consultants, nurse, senior doctor,and younger doctor.
“every cadre is leaving and it has affected the quality of health care delivery in the country”
However, Olowojebutu said to reduce brain drain the government have to institutionalized and be part of the process, improve the welfare package of all doctors to allow them stay and work in the country.
He urged the government at all level to support private hospitals which are already folding up with loans with low interest rates to help them improve and upgrade there health care facilities.
“Government should please assist and support private hospitals with loans with low interest rates to help them improve health care facilities,at the moment the hospitals that take care of patients are private institutions and they are already folding up due to economy hardship”
Dr Olowojebutu said the government should see healthcare as a major responsibility and also provide basic amenities to its citizens.