The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have partnered to discuss innovative strategies for enhancing collaboration between Nigerian medical professionals at home and abroad.
The high-level meeting, held at NiDCOM’s Abuja headquarters, saw Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, urging the NMA to create a conducive environment for cooperation between Nigerian doctors in the Diaspora and their colleagues in Nigeria. Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the global recognition of Nigerian doctors’ talents and called for harnessing these skills to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Forget about criticism; Nigerian doctors are the best everywhere, and nobody can stop us. The world recognizes their brilliance, and it is time to harness this talent for the betterment of our country,” Dabiri-Erewa declared.
Prof. Bala M. Audu, President of the Nigerian Medical Association, expressed his appreciation for NiDCOM’s support and acknowledged the pivotal role Nigerian healthcare professionals abroad play in advancing medical practice globally. He also highlighted the National Health Summit 2024’s focus on reviewing healthcare policies and improving access to quality care in Nigeria.
“We must focus on empowering the healthcare system locally, and with the right investments, such as in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), Nigeria can significantly boost its medical supply production,” Prof. Audu noted.
The NMA President also called for the creation of a practical policy framework that would facilitate knowledge and skill transfer from Diaspora healthcare professionals, a key component in upgrading Nigeria’s health sector. He stressed that clinical governance and standardization are crucial to providing quality medical services to the Nigerian population.
Both NiDCOM and NMA officials agreed on the importance of building stronger links between Nigeria and its healthcare professionals abroad. They concluded the meeting with a shared commitment to developing collaborative platforms aimed at fostering innovation and improving healthcare delivery across the nation.
