Saudi Arabia will on Thursday, August 26 continue the recruitment of Nigerian doctors specifically for senior registrars, a rank above house officers but below consultants.
Hundreds of Nigerian doctors had on Tuesday arrived at the Ladi Kwali Hall of Sheraton Hotels, Abuja to be interviewed by a consultancy firm, Meeds Consultancy.
The firm organised the interview on behalf of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health.
The doctors in attendance are specialised in various fields such as anaesthesia, ICU, paediatrics, surgery and family medicine among others.
A document seen by PUNCH on Tuesday said the interview on Thursday would be conducted by another recruitment firm, On Y Va Concept, on behalf of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.
The document titled, ‘Addendum, Vacancies in Saudi Arabia,’ read in part, “Senior registrars are invited for interview for opportunities in Saudi Arabia; only senior registrars with their membership certificates.
“Come with all documents; certificates and copies, two passport photographs, a letter showing evidence of work experience, a summary of the years of experience in chronological order, a comprehensive CV and forms of identification.”
The brain drain comes in the wake of an industrial action by resident doctors in Nigeria over poor working conditions. The Nigerian government recently obtained a court order to force the doctors back to work following deadlock in negotiation.
Speaking with the newspaper, a medical doctor Vivian Okolo had said, “Concerning the number of doctors here, I am heartbroken. When I came in here, I wanted to cry. Over 90 per cent of the people you see here are consultants.
“Consultants are the ones who train resident doctors. When they leave, who will train the upcoming doctors? But you can’t blame them, because we all are looking for better conditions of service.
“I left medical school in 2011; my teacher who taught me in the medical school is here, a seasoned paediatrics consultant.”
