‘Japa’: Our Members Migrating Due To Lack Of Legislative Bill – Physicists

• The Nigerian Association of Medical Physicists warns that skilled professionals are migrating due to the lack of legislative support for their profession
• NAMP urges lawmakers to prioritize bills that would enhance professional recognition and improve the working conditions of medical physicists

The Nigerian Association of Medical Physicists (NAMP) has expressed deep concern over the increasing migration of skilled medical physicists from Nigeria, which they attribute to the absence of legislative backing for their profession.

NAMP President, Prof. Abdulfatai Akintunde Balogun, shared this on Thursday in Abuja during the 2024 International Day of Medical Physics, themed “Inspiring the Next Generation of Medical Physicists.”

Balogun highlighted the essential roles of medical physicists in fields such as radiotherapy, medical imaging, radiation protection, and dosimetry.

Despite some progress, he said the profession in Nigeria faces numerous challenges, including limited access to modern equipment, inadequate funding for research and training, and a lack of integration of medical physics in healthcare policy.

The absence of necessary legislation has created significant professional challenges, affecting career progression and limiting the ability to retain talent.

Balogun pointed to the “Japa” trend—referring to skilled professionals migrating abroad—due to the profession’s instability in Nigeria. “The lack of clear and robust legislation has stymied our professional growth and hindered our ability to attract and retain talent,” he said.

The NAMP Bill, the Regulatory Council Bill, and the Medical Physics College Bill are currently awaiting consideration in the National Assembly. Balogun urged lawmakers to prioritize these bills, as they are essential for professional recognition, welfare, and the effective functioning of medical physicists in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Senator Oyelola Ashiru Yisa, Deputy Majority Leader of the 10th Assembly, who sponsored the NAMP Bill, emphasized its importance in aligning Nigeria’s healthcare system with international standards.

Speaking through his Senior Legislative Aide, Yisa stressed that the bill serves a national interest by promoting best practices in healthcare.

Chief Consultant Physicist at the National Hospital in Abuja, Taofeeq Ige, added that passing the bill is critical for advancing cancer treatment in Nigeria.

He noted the unique role of medical physicists in cancer care and stressed the risks of operating in the field without a regulatory body. “Radiation is something you cannot see, touch, or feel; it is vital that we adopt international best practices to ensure the safety and maximum benefit for patients,” Ige stated.

The call from NAMP highlights the urgent need for legislative action to support and retain medical physicists, whose expertise is critical to healthcare quality and safety in Nigeria.