Dr. Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health, affirmed on Monday that despite the ongoing “japa” trend affecting the healthcare sector, medical professionals continue to be among the highest-paid workers in Nigeria.
He further assured that the Federal Government is dedicated to increasing healthcare funding to ensure quality care is accessible to Nigerians.
Dr. Salako made this statement during a visit to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where he commended the hospital’s management for their innovation and dedication. He emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing healthcare workers.
“The ‘Japa’ challenge in the health sector is largely an economic issue, and we are committed to addressing it. However, this economic challenge goes beyond just the health sector. I believe the trend of ‘Japa’ will eventually be reversed,” Dr. Salako remarked.
He added, “Within Nigeria’s economic capacity, health workers remain the best-paid professionals in the country, reflecting the government’s recognition and value of them. We will continue advocating for increased healthcare funding. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently shown a strong focus on health.”
“We seldom make requests that the President does not approve. He understands the importance of healthcare and gives it considerable attention. We must repay this support by remaining committed, hardworking, and dedicated to serving the people.”
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UBTH, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, emphasized that the hospital plays a key role in training Nigeria’s healthcare workforce. However, he pointed out that with 250 consultants, 300 resident doctors, and 750 nurses, the hospital’s workforce is insufficient to meet the needs of over 500 daily patients.
“We are a major source of healthcare professionals in Nigeria, training resident doctors and producing specialized medical personnel. With 29 clinical departments, 28 of which are fully accredited by the West African Colleges, we are a leading institution,” Prof. Obaseki said.
He also praised President Tinubu for increasing the hospital’s funding, which has led to improvements in healthcare services.
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