Brain Drain: Saudi Arabia Holds Recruitment Exercise for Nigerian Doctors
Poor remuneration, inadequate manpower, poor health facilities, and equipment, are forcing Nigerian doctors to leave the country. Saudi Arabia is taking advantage of this as the country’s ministry of health is now recruiting Nigerian doctors.
The recruitment exercise is taking place simultaneously in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
Many medical doctors in Nigeria have applied for job positions with the Saudi Arabia ministry of health at a recruitment exercise organised by the ministry in Ikeja, the Lagos state capital, on Sunday, August 22.
Reports claim that the job offer was for consultants and specialists in all medical fields, excluding psychiatrists. Nigerian Doctors are one of the least paid medical doctors in the world.
The medical doctors were screened before a panel of Saudi Arabian personnel.
According to reports, over 500 Nigerian doctors turned up at the recruitment exercise in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. There was a large crowd of doctors within and outside the building during the exercise.
The recruitment exercise comes amid ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The doctors had commenced the strike on Sunday, August 1 over irregular payment of salaries, among other issues.
Recent meeting between NARD and FG deadlocked Recall that NARD recently rejected the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) presented by the federal government to its members.
This was disclosed by the NARD national president, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilaw in Abuja on Sunday, August 22.