FG Moves to Address Doctor Shortage, Reduce Reliance on Medical Tourism

The Federal Government has pledged to tackle the shortage of medical doctors and health personnel, a situation exacerbated by the mass exodus popularly termed “Japa syndrome,” promising an end to Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism.

The assurance came from the Minister of Health, Professor Ali Pate, during an inspection of medical and health sciences facilities at the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna), and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Bida in Niger State.

Professor Pate, represented by Dr. Jimoh Salawudeen, Director of Hospital Services, said the government is committed to training more healthcare professionals to fill the gap created by the emigration of medical personnel. He also affirmed the federal government’s support for a proposed collaboration between FUTMinna and FMC Bida to establish a Faculty of Medical Sciences and Health Technology aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery.

“We are impressed with the facilities, equipment, and personnel at FUTMinna and FMC Bida,” he said. “The hospital has over 60 consultants, attends to 5,000–6,000 patients monthly, and has adequate equipment. The university also has many professors, and the medical student hostels are ready for occupancy.”

However, he noted gaps in equipment and personnel at FMC Bida and urged the institution to address them to ensure quality clinical training.

The Vice-Chancellor of FUTMinna, Professor Faruk Adamu Kuta, welcomed the collaboration, describing it as a “marriage between two institutions that will benefit Nigeria and the world.” He stressed that the partnership aims to produce skilled medical professionals capable of meeting the nation’s healthcare needs.

Similarly, the Medical Director of FMC Bida, Dr. Abubakar Usman, assured that the hospital would address equipment and staffing gaps within three years while providing excellent training for medical students. Dr. Usman also confirmed plans to relocate the hospital to its permanent site to enhance operations and address space limitations.

During the inspection, the team visited FUTMinna’s facilities, including a 48-bed female medical students’ hostel, male hostels, an equipped human anatomy laboratory, the Africa Centre of Excellence for Mycotoxin and Food Safety, and the central store.