The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says the Federal Government will do everything possible to discourage doctors from leaving the country .
He said the government will provide the necessary incentives to make migration unattractive for the doctors .
Ehanire said this on Friday in Abuja after inspecting work on the new cancer centre at the National Hospital , Abuja .
“ I have heard the challenge of doctors leaving the country . We have plans to provide better funding for our hospitals in Nigeria and make such migration unattractive , ” he said .
The minister also said that the hospital performed well during the peak of the COVID – 19 pandemic in the country , pledging that the government will do everything possible to ensure that doctors will prefer to remain and work in country.
Speaking further , the minister advised the hospital management to spend wisely , properly maintain the facilities when completed and seek alternative sources of funding .
He praised the hospital administrators for its prompt services to patients and advised them to be prepared for a possible resurgence of the COVID -19 pandemic as other countries are now experiencing .
“Schools are resuming , people are travelling in and out the country so we must be prepared for any emergency ,” he warned .
Also speaking , the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Jaf Momoh , indicated that the hospital has introduced incentives to encourage medical personnel to stay in the country .