‘Healthcare must be at the centre of mainstream economy for brain gain’

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, has said healthcare must be at the centre of the mainstream economy to attract and retain skilled medical professionals.

The commissioner had in July said the state health sector is deficient by 30,000 medical doctors to service its health needs. Abayomi, who was a keynote speaker at a recent formal office opening and D3 Hub Launch organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), expressed concern over the state of the health sector in Africa and Nigeria.

He said: “We think that health is one of these social services that need to be parked on the side, we just put money in it when we feel like it should deliver miraculous dividends. It doesn’t work like that. Healthcare must be right in the centre of the mainstream economy, and only when that happens, we can see brain gain or a circular brain.

“It must be a viable entity to practice the health profession; it must be a healthy proposition. It must be a viable proposition. Only then will money flow into it and people will feel the dividends of a good professional environment.”

HFN President, Dr Pamela Ajayi, noted that the new office serves as a home for its members and a place where healthcare professionals can relax and network with other colleagues. She explained that the D3 stands for ‘Diaspora, Digital and Diversity.’

“We want to work with our colleagues in the diaspora, especially the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) and other associations that want to bring back professionals, who have developed their talents.

“We have a lot of health care workers in Nigeria and every day, they leave. We are not that averse to people leaving Nigeria to gain knowledge, but they must come back and that is one of the reasons we created the hub.”

Ajayi explained that the hub creates a soft landing for physicians abroad: “Some of them want to come home, but they don’t know how to do it. We are willing to help them to come back.”

She emphasised that the hub is meant to help members communicate, network and focus on clinical and corporate governance. “We focus on having doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and nurses as part of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria. We want to focus on the issue of gender inclusion and development of our women, particularly our young women.”

ANPA past president, Dr Chinyere Anyogu, expressed excitement about the opportunities and initiatives being taken by HFN to promote healthcare. She emphasised the need for a facilitative healthcare environment where equipment can be brought in and collaboration can improve.