Medical tourism: Nigerian Medical Lab Scientists To Provide Ideas On How to Curb Brain Drain

Nigerian laboratory scientists living abroad are looking for ways to combat medical tourism and brain drain.

The Nigerian Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Diaspora (NMLSD) are gearing up to host an international conference with the aim of offering solutions to the myriad problems confronting the country's healthcare system.

The organization's president, Mojeed Shittu, spoke to the media and outlined the main obstacles facing Nigeria's healthcare industry, such as the lack of infrastructure and equipment, the large emigration of medical and health professionals in search of better opportunities overseas, and the professional development of medical laboratory scientists.

He did, however, stress the need of acting quickly to address these issues, “Rather than lamenting this brain drain, Nigeria's government can strategically leverage the expertise of medical laboratory scientists both home and abroad to bolster domestic healthcare services and ultimately reverse brain drain to brain gain.

“To Improve healthcare in Nigeria, the Nigerian government should invest in infrastructure, equipment, and continuous professional development for medical laboratory scientists. While enticing medical laboratory scientists abroad to return to Nigeria may pose challenges, the government can still benefit from their expertise by leveraging technology and fostering collaboration.

“Collaboration with experts abroad enables access to specialised knowledge, advanced techniques, and best practices in laboratory medicine.

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The co-chair of the conference organizing committee, Dr. Ukpai Eze, focused on the noteworthy developments in medical laboratory science practice in Nigeria, including the 2003 National Assembly of Nigeria enactment of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria Act.

He did, however, also note that insufficient funding for laboratory equipment and medical laboratory scientist training has hampered Nigeria's ability to provide high-quality laboratory diagnostics.

He emphasized that every year, Nigerians travel overseas for medical treatment as a result of this lack of reliable and efficient diagnostic capacity, which acts as a catalyst for medical tourism.

According to Abiola Oketikun, the vice president of the organization and chairperson of the conference organizing committee, the conference, with the theme “Harnessing Diaspora Experience for Enhanced Medical Laboratory Science Practice in Nigeria,” is set for March 23, 2024, in the afternoon via Zoom.

She said that two internationally recognized medical laboratory scientists will be the conference's keynote speakers: Dr. Godswill Okara, who is currently the registrar at the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Sciences, and Dr. Zeribe Nwosu, an assistant professor at Cornell University in the United States.