Medical Students Now Plan ‘Japa’ Before Graduation — NMA

 

By Abel Chigozie

The Nigerian Medical Association has raised concerns over the growing exodus of doctors and the changing attitude of medical students, saying some students are now planning to leave Nigeria for better opportunities even before completing their medical training.

The development, according to the association, reflects the worsening conditions within Nigeria’s health sector and the increasing attraction of foreign countries to young medical professionals.

The NMA warned that the trend could further deepen the shortage of doctors in the country and place additional pressure on an already overstretched healthcare system.

The association’s concern comes amid continued reports of Nigerian doctors and other health professionals relocating abroad in search of better working conditions, improved remuneration, career opportunities and more conducive professional environments.

The growing migration has also increased the workload of doctors who remain in the country, with several states reporting shortages of medical personnel.

In Ogun State, for instance, the NMA recently disclosed that only about 1,200 doctors were serving a population estimated at nine million, highlighting the widening gap between available manpower and healthcare needs.

The medical brain drain has also affected training institutions, hospitals and specialist services, as experienced doctors leave the country while fewer young professionals appear willing to build their careers locally.

The NMA’s latest warning comes against the backdrop of broader calls for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s health sector, including improved remuneration, better working conditions, investment in medical infrastructure and stronger incentives to retain healthcare professionals.

The association’s position underscores growing fears that if the factors driving medical migration are not urgently addressed, Nigeria could face an even more severe shortage of doctors in the years ahead.

The situation has prompted renewed calls for governments at both federal and state levels to introduce sustainable measures capable of making medical practice in Nigeria more attractive and competitive.

Stakeholders have argued that retaining doctors requires more than appeals to patriotism, stressing the need to address the economic and professional realities confronting healthcare workers.

As the “japa” trend continues to shape career decisions among Nigerian professionals, the NMA’s warning suggests that the migration crisis is no longer limited to practising doctors, but is increasingly influencing the aspirations of medical students still in training.