NMA Criticizes FG Over Saint Lucia Doctor Deployment, Cites ‘Neglect of Local Healthcare Crisis’
The Nigerian Medical Association has faulted the government’s plan to send doctors abroad.
It says the move ignores local healthcare problems while focusing on foreign partnerships for prestige.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has strongly criticized the Federal Government’s decision to deploy Nigerian doctors to Saint Lucia, describing the move as a “deeply troubling contradiction” that neglects domestic healthcare needs while chasing international prestige.
In a statement issued by NMA Secretary General Dr Ben Egbo, the association expressed concern that the policy completely disregards the urgent welfare and working conditions of medical professionals in Nigeria, many of whom are fleeing the country in record numbers.
“This policy of exporting Nigerian doctors while neglecting their welfare at home is both alarming and unjustifiable,” the NMA said.
The association highlighted multiple unresolved issues plaguing the country’s health workforce. Among these are the continued delays in disbursing the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), the non-implementation of earlier agreed-upon welfare packages, unsafe working conditions, and inadequate hazard allowances. It also cited the government’s failure to uniformly implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) across institutions as a significant source of discontent.
“These deficiencies have led to widespread burnout, mental stress, chronic illnesses, and even avoidable deaths among doctors,” Egbo stated. “This deterioration is directly impacting the quality of healthcare services available to Nigerians.”
The NMA emphasized that deploying healthcare workers abroad without first resolving the crisis within the local health sector signals misplaced priorities. The association urged the Federal Government to refocus on rebuilding Nigeria’s medical infrastructure, improving doctors’ welfare, and restoring trust in the health system.
While international collaborations can have benefits, the NMA emphasized that such initiatives must not compromise the nation’s core medical system and its personnel.
“This approach of image-building through international partnerships is ill-timed and fails to reflect the urgent needs at home,” the statement concluded.
The NMA condemnation adds to the growing public debate around the country’s persistent brain drain in the healthcare sector, with thousands of Nigerian doctors having relocated abroad in search of better pay, working conditions, and professional development opportunities.
