As Nigerian hospitals bemoan staff shortages, 13,000 leave for UK in one year
While Nigerian hospitals continue to suffer from a shortage of doctors and other healthcare personnel, more than 13,000 caregivers have left the country for the UK over the past year.
>A new UK government report has shown that the 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers granted work visas during the period are just behind the 42,966 Indians.
According to the UK immigration report released on Thursday, Nigeria is second only to India in the number of visas granted for "skilled worker - health and care", with 14% (13,609 ) of the total.
India is highest in this category with 45% (42,966) of the total, while the Philippines is third with 11% (11,021).
However, it is not just healthcare workers who leave Nigeria to work in the UK.
Nigerians are also the second largest recipients of the "work visa", just behind Indians.
In the year ending June 2022, Nigerians accounted for 15,772 of 'worker' visas granted; a 303% increase from the 3,918 work visas granted in 2019.
India, which ranked first, received 102,981 work visa grants. The Philippines ranked third with 12,826; Zimbabwe fourth with 8,378 and the United States fifth with 7,748.
According to the UK Home Office report, "in the year ending June 2022, 'worker' visa grants increased by 96% (+108,794) to 222 349 compared to 2019, and now represent 67% of all work visas."
He added that there were 87,266 "Skilled Worker" visa grants and an additional 96,249 "Skilled Worker Health and Care" visa grants.
The top three nationals who obtained "skilled worker" visas are Indians at 39% (34,186), followed by US nationals at 6% (5,637) and South Africans at 4% (3,578 ).
"Subsidies for 'skilled worker' visas have increased every quarter since their introduction in December 2020 and together account for more than half (55%) of all work visas granted in the past year", indicates the ratio.
There has been public outcry over the mass exodus of health workers from Nigeria, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
In January, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) lamented the departure of more than 100 of its members who left the country in 2021.
The association's president, Victor Makanjuola, during a briefing in Abuja, said medical officers had left the services of 17 tertiary health facilities in the country.
READ ALSO: As Buhari receives medical treatment abroad, doctors' strike wreaks havoc on Nigerian hospitalsMr. Makanjuola said the massive exodus of medical and dental consultants to more developed countries has caused significant disruptions in Nigeria's healthcare ecosystem.
A 2017 survey by the Nigerian Polling Organization (NOIPolls) in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch, found that around 88% of Nigerian doctors were seeking work opportunities abroad at the time.< /p>
In 2020, Nigeria had a physician-to-patient ratio of 1:2,753, which contrasts sharply with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended minimum ratio of 1:400-600.
However, in 2019, Chris Ngige, Nigeria's Minister of Labor, said that Nigeria had "surplus doctors" and therefore was not worried about Nigerian doctors leaving the country to practice under other climates.
Chiamaka Okafor is a journalist at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which connects local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to cover under-reported issues around the world.
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While Nigerian hospitals continue to suffer from a shortage of doctors and other healthcare personnel, more than 13,000 caregivers have left the country for the UK over the past year.
>A new UK government report has shown that the 13,609 Nigerian healthcare workers granted work visas during the period are just behind the 42,966 Indians.
According to the UK immigration report released on Thursday, Nigeria is second only to India in the number of visas granted for "skilled worker - health and care", with 14% (13,609 ) of the total.
India is highest in this category with 45% (42,966) of the total, while the Philippines is third with 11% (11,021).
However, it is not just healthcare workers who leave Nigeria to work in the UK.
Nigerians are also the second largest recipients of the "work visa", just behind Indians.
In the year ending June 2022, Nigerians accounted for 15,772 of 'worker' visas granted; a 303% increase from the 3,918 work visas granted in 2019.
India, which ranked first, received 102,981 work visa grants. The Philippines ranked third with 12,826; Zimbabwe fourth with 8,378 and the United States fifth with 7,748.
According to the UK Home Office report, "in the year ending June 2022, 'worker' visa grants increased by 96% (+108,794) to 222 349 compared to 2019, and now represent 67% of all work visas."
He added that there were 87,266 "Skilled Worker" visa grants and an additional 96,249 "Skilled Worker Health and Care" visa grants.
The top three nationals who obtained "skilled worker" visas are Indians at 39% (34,186), followed by US nationals at 6% (5,637) and South Africans at 4% (3,578 ).
"Subsidies for 'skilled worker' visas have increased every quarter since their introduction in December 2020 and together account for more than half (55%) of all work visas granted in the past year", indicates the ratio.
There has been public outcry over the mass exodus of health workers from Nigeria, including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
In January, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) lamented the departure of more than 100 of its members who left the country in 2021.
The association's president, Victor Makanjuola, during a briefing in Abuja, said medical officers had left the services of 17 tertiary health facilities in the country.
READ ALSO: As Buhari receives medical treatment abroad, doctors' strike wreaks havoc on Nigerian hospitalsMr. Makanjuola said the massive exodus of medical and dental consultants to more developed countries has caused significant disruptions in Nigeria's healthcare ecosystem.
A 2017 survey by the Nigerian Polling Organization (NOIPolls) in partnership with Nigeria Health Watch, found that around 88% of Nigerian doctors were seeking work opportunities abroad at the time.< /p>
In 2020, Nigeria had a physician-to-patient ratio of 1:2,753, which contrasts sharply with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended minimum ratio of 1:400-600.
However, in 2019, Chris Ngige, Nigeria's Minister of Labor, said that Nigeria had "surplus doctors" and therefore was not worried about Nigerian doctors leaving the country to practice under other climates.
Chiamaka Okafor is a journalist at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which connects local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to cover under-reported issues around the world.
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