NMA opposes proposed five-year compulsory work for doctors

Says bill defective, fails to address real issues

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State chapter, yesterday, berated members of the House of Representatives for the proposed five-year compulsory work for Nigerian doctors before being granted a licence.

The House had, as part of efforts to reverse the trend of brain drain in the health sector, passed for second reading, a Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to make it compulsory for graduates in medical and dental fields to render services within Nigeria for five years before being granted full licence to practise.

The Oyo State NMA Chairman, Dr. Wale Lasisi, who spoke during a live radio programme in Ibadan, said that the proposed law was defective and discriminatory.

He said that the law fails to address the fundamental issues bedeviling the health sector.

“It is discriminatory. The emigration happening in Nigeria is not limited to doctors. It is across the board as engineers and other professionals are equally travelling out. It is against international laws. We are not in a slave trade era.

“Our loyalty, patriotism and the efforts we make are not being appreciated,” he said.

‘’The law is even defective. The government is not addressing the main problems. It is a fundamental problem that did not start today.

‘’Every human being prefers a better life. The incentives are not there for us to work here. Even those who have done postgraduate studies find it difficult to get jobs. It is natural to move forward when there is a better opportunity. There are opportunities outside for better living and modern training to practise and be happy.

“Let them make basic amenities available for doctors,” he said.