1.1 Introduction
The term "brain drain" describes the mass exodus of medical professionals from underdeveloped nations to developed ones. It also comprises the transfer of information, experience, competence, and skill from one nation, region, or geographic area to another. Typically, brain drain is seen as an expense to the releasing nations' economies. This is due to the fact that migrants typically only bring a small portion of the value of the training they received under government or other organization sponsorship. It might be equated to capital flight which relates to the same movement of financial capital. As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
In today’s environment, brain drain is a prominent phenomenon affecting all sectors of the country. In organizations, numerous valuable skills are being lost due to these incumbents emigrating, leaving the organisation with a gap that is hard to fill in the current scarce and critical skill environment. Studies such as (Docquier and Marfouk, 2006; Uroh 2001), have shown that brain drain also affects the country in two ways; these are Socio-economic effects and demographical effects. Under the socio-economic effects, certain characteristics are more predominate when it comes to the groups of people who emigrate out of Nigeria. Some of these trends indicate there are certain age groups as well as professions who choose to go through the emigration route in search of better opportunities (Abubakar, 2001). This could result in valuable skills leaving the country. There are also benefits for the country if individuals decide to leave. This move could open up employment opportunities for unemployed individuals as well as opportunities to provide skills training to the working population.
Beginning from 1999, the President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration has also tried to satisfy its workforce (lecturers inclusive) in the country by introducing the Basic Salary Scheme (i.e 50 percent increase in basic salaries of civil servant) which 25% has been implemented. But since the inception of the programme there has been instability and inconsistency of academic sessions in the University system in Nigeria. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has embarked on different labour strikes due to the fact that the federal government have not been able to meet up with the increase in salaries. This is turn has endangered the University education and also the search for better educational career abroad by students, as well as greener pasture by lecturers.
More so, during the Abacha’s administration, attempts were made to improve the standard of living of the low income earners by stimulating appropriate economic activities in the various wards of each local government area in the country through the introduction of the Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP) in 1997. Despite the implementation of the programme, its impact was not quiet felt by the University system in the country. As such there was still a great deal of exodus of lecturers from institutions to other private organizations during this period.
Brain drain threatens University Educational System with total collapse because there is a growing difficulty in inducing brilliant and able students to come back to the system. This study intends to consider the effects of brain drain on the Nigerian University education and the nation’s economic development in general. Thus considering the factors affecting brain retention and their effects on University education is part of the focus of this research study.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Menace of Medical Brain Drain in Nigeria.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the medical field has suffered significantly in recent years as a result of a steady outflow of its more experienced nurses. The result is that the medical business has suffered greatly. Furthermore, it is difficult for any institution to expand and flourish without adequate trained medical professionals, which makes it difficult to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in public health and research. This problem has plagued Nigeria's medical sector.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Menace of Medical Brain Drain in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To identify the implication of the brain drain from the nursing profession on patient care in the research sector;
- To determine the potential effects of nurse brain drain on national development;
- To investigate the factors instigating the brain drain of medical professionals in the study area; and
- To suggest and recommend, effective ways for reducing the continual Nursing profession brain drain in the region under consideration.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What is the implication of the brain drain from the nursing profession on patient care in the research sector?
- What are the potential effects of nurse brain drain on national development?
- What are the factors instigating the brain drain of medical professionals in the study area?
- What are the effective ways for reducing the continual Nursing profession brain drain in the region under consideration?
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