Why many Nigerian medics fail abroad – Dr. Adaeze

An investigation by a United Kingdom newspaper, the Telegraph, revealed that three-quarters of doctors who were struck off medical register in on year alone were African medics.The BBC also reports high rate of disciplinary proceedings against migrant medics.Worried by these, a Nigerian medical doctor, Dr Adaeze Ifezulike, who has put in more than a decade […]

An investigation by a United Kingdom newspaper, the Telegraph, revealed that three-quarters of doctors who were struck off medical register in on year alone were African medics.
The BBC also reports high rate of disciplinary proceedings against migrant medics.
Worried by these, a Nigerian medical doctor, Dr Adaeze Ifezulike, who has put in more than a decade of medical practice in the United Kingdom has written a book to help Nigerian medical professionals who would love to practice abroad survive the stringent conditions.
The guide book titled, ‘Medicine Abroad: Compulsory for Medics Trained Outside the Western World’, tells an insider account of how African medics can survive abroad.
Dr. Adaeze who told the story from her personal experiences and observations concluded that the medical practice culture in Nigeria falls short of global standards thus Nigerian trained medics who would want to practice abroad must retool their orientation.
She noted with the dismay the tradition in Nigeria where the doctor and other medical practitioners see themselves as kings, adding that, it’s a wrong form of medical care.
She said, the ideal is medics should converse with patient as equals because the patient is an authority on what goes on within him or her.
Presenting the book to newsman in Lagos, the author said, “while going aboard is not for everyone as many medics thrive in their own home countries, for those who do want to practice abroad, it is imperative they obtain accurate unbiased information that will ensure they succeed abroad. Up till now, such critical information has been lacking with many of our doctors arriving abroad with little or no clue about the cultural differences, societal and patient expectations of the host countries.”