FG TARGETS 20,000 ANNUAL MEDICAL ADMISSIONS, UNVEILS SIX SIMULATION CENTRES

The Federal Government has announced plans to increase annual admissions into medical training programmes to 20,000 as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare professionals and reduce the impact of medical brain drain.

The government also unveiled six simulation centres designed to improve practical training for medical students and strengthen the quality of healthcare education in the country.

The initiative is part of broader efforts to expand the capacity of Nigeria’s medical education system and produce more doctors and other healthcare professionals to meet the country’s growing healthcare needs.

Officials said increasing medical admissions would help strengthen the health workforce, particularly as many Nigerian-trained professionals continue to seek opportunities abroad.

The simulation centres are expected to provide students with practical learning environments where they can develop clinical skills before working directly with patients.

The government said improving medical education and training infrastructure would complement other measures aimed at retaining healthcare professionals and strengthening the country’s health system.

Stakeholders have continued to raise concerns over the number of Nigerian doctors and other health workers leaving the country in search of better opportunities overseas.

The Federal Government said the expansion of medical training capacity would help build a stronger domestic workforce and improve access to healthcare services.

The initiative is expected to involve collaboration among government agencies, medical institutions and other stakeholders to improve training standards and increase the number of qualified healthcare professionals produced annually.