NSP Decries Brain Drain, Urges Federal Govt To Employ Physiotherapists

The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) has decried brain drain in the health sector, calling on the federal government to employ physiotherapists to replace those leaving to prevent further compromise on the quality of healthcare to Nigerians.

NSP also noted that the efforts will relieve the burden on physiotherapists in Nigeria and retain experienced hands.

A communique issued at the end of its 63 ordinary general meeting held in Ibadan jointly signed by NSP president, Dr Nnenna Nina Chigbo, public relations officer, Ogbonna Obi, said that while it is the prerogative of members to choose the location for professional practice and development, the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board Nigeria has this year alone provided verification letters to 1513 physiotherapists to obtain practicing license in the United Kingdom.

On its real estate project in Abuja, NSP notified members that contributions and donations toward the Abuja building project was slow, saying the rationale behind the project and the benefits NSP would accrue when the project is completed.

It called for all members to buy into the actualization of the project.

On the upward review of license and registration fees, the meeting maintained that due process was not followed in the upward review of licensing and other fees by the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria MRTBN.

It said the increments are unwarranted and will cause undue hardship to our already suffering membership which makes up over 90 per cent of the board registrants.

It was also established that the board failed to consult NSP and other relevant stakeholders before implementing the new fees, therefore, NSP is strongly in disagreement with the decision of the board and demands that status quo be maintained until further notice.

“The board is implored to join NSP in seeking ways of improving the welfare of registrants,” it said.

The communique noted that state chapters are to furnish the NSP secretariat with periodic reports of activities and other relevant information from their domain using the approved reporting template.

On conference hosting, it was confirmed that all is set by the Enugu state chapter of NSP to host this year’s conference and AGM. “The Ekiti state chapter received hosting rights for the 2023 NSP conference and annual general meeting AGM,” it said.

It noted that the meeting witnessed the induction of new members into its noble profession.