Doctors in Akeredolu: Hiring retired doctors to fight 'brain drain' in Ondo health sector

To end the “brain drain” in the Ondo state health sector, the state government has been advised to enlist the services of retired doctors to address the the shortage of workers in public hospitals

This advice was given by a consultant obstetrician at UNIMEDTH University Hospital of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Dr. Lawal Oyeneyin, who expressed concern about the increasing number of doctors and other healthcare workers leaving the hospital. state and country for more ecological reasons. pasture.

Speaking at the 9th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, (MDCAN) Ondo State on the topic: Strategic Approach to Formulation, development and implementation of an impactful health policy: a workable model for Ondo State, noted the myriad challenges plaguing the health sector in the country.

Oyeneyin admitted that the state faces serious labor issues, saying the best minds in the state's health sector retire at the age of 60, but said called on the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to consider paying special attention to health professionals

The lecturer at the University Hospital of Medical Sciences said this could be achieved through a bill that would give a legal basis to the proposed new retirement age for medical professionals.

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Oyeneyin added: "The best brains retire at the age of 60. Why can't we compile the names of retirees in all relevant ministries of health and bring out an employment contract among them who are always ready to work?

"We need to come up with a temporary policy to deal with the crisis we are experiencing in our hospitals. It will get worse if we don't address it. We are experiencing a shortage of medical professionals.

"We need to find a way to retain those who are here now and deal with the staffing shortage.

"We need to raise the retirement age, so that health care workers get special attention unlike rudimentary civil servants where the retirement age is 60 or 30 years of service.

"Rather than allowing our experienced and skilled hands to compulsorily leave the system at age 60, we can extend the age to 65 or 35 years of experience so that we can bridge the gap that is product.

"We should not wait for the system to collapse, we need the political will of those running the system to address the various challenges in our hospitals.

Speaking on the theme: Nigerian Politics: The Process, Perspectives and Involvement of Doctors, a former Lagos State Assembly Member, Jibayo Adeyeye urged doctors to take charge politically saying they can't afford to sit on the fence.

According to him, doctors have a vital role to play in changing the narrative of the country by running for different elective positions.

He said, "'Doctors should rise up to take their rightful place in the political landscape. We should not sit on the fence but be actively involved in the scheme of things by showing interest in different elective seats”

Adeyeye, who is the governor's special adviser on strategic, policy and legislative matters, instructed party members to always provide the necessary support to their representatives instead of placing an unnecessary burden on them.

"In my entire time at the Lagos State Assembly, only one person presented to me what his community needed. Many were asking me for help in different ways."

MDCAN's new President, Dr. Ramon Sunday Omotayo, in his acceptance speech, promised that special attention would be given to the welfare of members to ensure that their dues are paid on time.

He said, "I will do my best with the support of other executive members to bring rapid development to MDCAN

"The well-being of the members will be the subject of particular attention and we will make sure to do everything to protect the interests of our members", he assured.

Other association leaders who have emerged include Dr Ayodele Stephen Adewole, the new secretary.