The wife of the Lagos State governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has called on governments, policymakers and healthcare stakeholders to collaborate in creating a sustainable framework that retains valuable professionals in the country.

Mrs Sanwo-Olu made the call on Tuesday during a programme held as part of activities for the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Lagos State Physicians Week.

The physicians’ week has the theme:  “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare Industry”.

The week has a subtheme – “Mitigating the Impact of Infectious Diseases: Addressing the Monkeypox Outbreak and Beyond.”

Mrs Sanwo-Olu expressed optimism that the interest of physicians would be valuably considered as discussions around minimum wage were ongoing nationwide.

The governor’s wife, represented by Folasade Fadare, medical director of the Harvey Road General Hospital, Yaba, said the theme for this year’s celebration was relevant, timely, and insightful.

“Fair and consistent remuneration is not just a financial matter, but a fundamental aspect of motivating and retaining talents, not only in healthcare but across all domains.

“Today, it has become a concerning trend to see our talented physicians, specialists, and healthcare professionals making the difficult decisions to pursue opportunities abroad due to disparities in remuneration and systemic challenges.

“This trend weakens our ability to provide quality care, especially during critical times, and highlights that our healthcare workforce is already insufficient to meet the population needs,” she said.

Mrs Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos government was committed to partnering with NMA to address this pressing issue and ensure a healthier system that offers dignity, support, and improved welfare for healthcare workers.

Similarly, the keynote speaker, Abiodun Adewuya, provost of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), said 40 per cent of Nigerian doctors practice abroad.

Mr Adewuya said a survey conducted indicated that over 75 per cent of medical graduates in Nigeria expressed the desire to migrate.

“The country loses billions in investments in education and training when our high-skilled professionals migrate abroad.

“It costs about $10,000 to $20,000 to train a doctor and a nurse,” he said.

To retain healthcare professionals, Mr Adewuya called for improved working conditions, career development programmes, public-private partnerships, and prioritising the health sector in the government’s development agenda.

(NAN)