The brain drain
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Dear All
Re: 'Brain drain' of health professionals from Africa
Yes, indeed, the 'brain drain' phenomenon is a serious issue.
The 'push' and 'pull' factors for brain drain of professionals from
developing countries are a combination of many sets and subsets of
factors including the entrenchment and impact of poor governance with
externally contrived and imposed globalization policies. Of the
'push/pull' factors, the globalization policies rank highest as the
single most important culprit. This is of course a personal opinion,
but a valid if controvertible one. Without doubt, only few of Af-
rica's political and policy leaders understand the sophistication of
the globalization policies and its compounding impact on Africa's
fortunes to date. Outside Africa, for obvious reasons, only few will
admit publicly that the globalization policies targeted at Africa
drive its diverse problems including 'brain drain' of its profession-
als.
In suggesting proposals to remedy 'brain drain' of health Profession-
als from Africa, Professor Levy in the HIF-net@WHO forum wrote: "At
least the first world might consider setting out very considerable
contribution to its health services against the third world's debts,
otherwise it becomes just another form of colonialism. We produce the
resource; the first world takes it" [for cheap] - my insertion.
Tough luck! Hey, welcome to reality and globalization!
His other proposals: Train graduates whose qualifications are not
recognized abroad, and who would function locally at a lower level of
standard than elsewhere and at least be retained in their countries
to be of some help to that country. In all fairness this has some
merit but very few African countries have had the courage to imple-
ment it except for Tanzania.
Having said all these, what other proposals are out there for ad-
dressing the 'brain drain' issue in Africa?
I will draw on my knowledge of the Nigerian situation over the last
four decades, for guidance.
In the early post-independence years, up until the early seventies,
migration of health professionals from Nigerian was exceedingly low
despite the fact that local training matched international standards
in developed countries. Even when local graduates were sponsored
abroad for post-graduate training, 99.99% of them returned to Nigeria
to work and live. The developed countries were simply no attraction
then. Why? Wages and benefits were then comparatively good and regu-
lar. Job satisfaction was high. The exchange rate was strong. Social
infrastructure and rule of law were functional. Life then was rela-
tively good. Mindless policies of the military era (poor governance)
coupled with the externally contrived imposition of Structural Ad-
justment Program (globalization policies) changed the above scenario
from the early eighties to-date.
To find suitable antidotes for 'brain drain' of professionals from
developing countries especially of Africa, better understanding of
its root causes is required. Next a wholesome investment in advocacy
is mandatory to help local leaders understand the issues and hope-
fully, appropriate multi-pronged policies would over time be formu-
lated and implemented to reduce the outflow of professionals from Af-
rica, country by country. Within the framework of raging globaliza-
tion, it would not be an easy task.
A. Odutola
Centre for Health Policy & Strategic Studies
Lagos, Nigeria
mailto:chpss_abo@yahoo.com
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