The President of the World Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, has voiced strong opposition to the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (Amendment) Bill. The legislation, which passed its second reading in the House of Representatives last week, would require medical and dental graduates to complete five years of compulsory service in Nigeria before receiving a full licence to practice. Its stated aim is to curb the exodus of Nigerian health professionals abroad.
In an interview with The On Sunday, Dr. Enabulele described the bill as misplaced and ill‑advised, urging its withdrawal because it could exacerbate brain drain rather than alleviate it. He argued that the proposal demonstrates a “clear lack of understanding of the push and pull factors” driving the crisis, which is most severe in Nigeria and across Africa. Instead of offering purposeful, progressive solutions—such as transparent, comprehensive strategies and prioritized investment in the health system and workforce—the bill’s sponsors have introduced a measure that is likely to worsen the problem.
Dr. Enabulele noted that while doctors are indeed leaders of the health team, the bill’s approach is selective and discriminatory. Statistics show that professionals from all sectors of Nigeria are leaving the country, with both younger and senior workers increasingly caught in the brain‑drain wave. He therefore urged the bill’s sponsors to reconsider and withdraw the legislation, warning that its “cure” would be worse than the ailment it seeks to treat. He called for a realistic focus on addressing the underlying push factors and building a resilient health system with a strong health workforce.
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