Professor Ememabasi Bassey, a former Commissioner for Health, Akwa Ibom State and Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in this interview DAILY POST’s Lovina Emole highlights the causes and effects of brain drain, among other issues. Excerpts! The Federal government recently opened up recruitment of medical practitioners, will that curb the effects of brain drain? First of all, I would like to thank the federal government for allowing recruitment into hospitals.
But that is still not enough because while we are recruiting, we are not retaining. A lot of health professionals are leaving the country on a daily basis. This week alone, I have seen two professionals just resign; so health professionals, primarily residents doctors, even consultants are going to Saudi Arabia. We are seeing a large number of physiotherapists, radiographers, laboratory scientists leavin