No fewer than 200 Nigerian-trained doctors were licensed by the government of the United Kingdom in just one month, Sunday PUNCH has learned.
Checks on the website of the General Medical Council, the body which licenses and maintains the official register of medical practitioners in the UK, showed that the GMC licensed at least 200 Nigerian-trained doctors between August 31, 2022, and September 30, 2022.
The statistics also showed that between January 1, 2022, and September 30, 2022, about 1,307 doctors trained in Nigeria were licensed in the UK as Nigeria continues to battle one of the worst situations of brain drain in its history.
Overall, 10,296 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria currently practice in the UK. However, Nigerian doctors who got medical qualifications in schools outside the country are not included in the data.
Overall, 10,296 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria currently practice in the UK. However, Nigerian doctors who got medical qualifications in schools outside the country are not included in the data.
The rate of migration of medical doctors has recently become a matter of concern. The Nigerian Medical Association, while lamenting the high rate of medical brain drain, had said Nigeria might import doctors in the future.
CR/VO/PUNCH
