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Kenya should stop the tide of doctors migrating to other countries for perceived better pay, the Chairman of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA) George Magoha has said.
Prof Magoha, who is a former Vice Chancellor for University of Nairobi, said this on Friday during the AMCOA’s conference in Mombasa after he was re-elected unopposed to the post he has held for two years.
He said most doctors seeking greener pastures abroad were later discouraged to find they could not cope with expensive life abroad.
Magoha said between 30-40 per cent of the estimated 600 doctors who graduate in Kenya annually move to other countries in search of greener pastures after completing internship, saying the trend affects the Kenya’s health sector negatively.
He mentioned South Africa as a leading destination for doctors seeking greener pastures adding most of the young doctors were driven by the perception that working outside the country was more lucrative.
Magoha, who is also the Chairman of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, said his team was planning to organise internships in South Africa and further abroad to enable medical students about to graduate gain exposure and “to see reality”, a move he said would help retain young doctors in the country.
He said most of the doctors who migrate to other countries end up broke and in regret after it dawns on them they spend a better chunk of salary on food and transport.
key highlights
This year’s conference with the theme “Licensure of Medical and Dental Practice” attracted members from 19 African countries.
One of the key highlights was the discussion on how to stop doctors who were struck off the practising register in one country but continue to practise in a different country.
He gave the example of here doctors were struck off the register in Kenya but then migrated to Uganda or Tanzania and continued to practise.
The conference also held discussions on euthanasia, where the doctors unanimously spoke against the practice popularly known as “mercy killing”
“Euthanasia is illegal in Kenya. We orthodox physicians shall treat until such time someone stops breathing. We are not allowed to assist a patient to die,” said Magoha.
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