Dr David Ikudayisi, a US Board-certified regenerative medicine expert, has advised governments at the federal and state levels to find a lasting solution to the problem of brain drain in the medical sector.
He said governments should identify and address the root cause of brain drain by improving working conditions and standard of equipment in hospitals in the country.
Ikudayisi, Medical Director of Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, operating medical practices in both Florida, USA and Nigeria, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday.
According to him, migration of health workers, otherwise known as brain drain, can only be stopped or reduced significantly if practitioners can see clear, credible career-progression pathways that reward competence.
“Nigeria can reduce the pressure driving health-worker migration by achieving pay and working conditions satisfactory for the majority of the healthcare sector and ensuring high standards of hospital equipment,” he stated.
Ikudayisi also advocated strong incentives for research careers and sustained attention to the essential needs of workers in the medical sector.
He urged Nigerians to embrace regenerative medicine, saying it could significantly reduce outbound medical tourism and strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
“It can strengthen advanced skills and infrastructure—cell processing, cold-chain logistics, imaging-guided procedures, rehabilitation pathways and outcomes tracking.
“It can also reduce outbound medical tourism when Nigeria builds trustworthy centres with proper governance, transparent outcomes and ethical practice aligned with regulator guidance.
“Finally, it is already bringing in in-bound medical tourism. This can be strengthened over the course of the near future. Glory Wellness and Regenerative Clinic is privileged to be part of the forefront of this in Nigeria,’’ he said.
He advised the public to be cautious when seeking advanced treatments, urging them to patronise only reputable centres with “verifiable positive outcomes” for safety and efficacy.
Ikudayisi said he looked forward to Nigeria becoming a regional leader in cutting-edge medical innovations, especially in regenerative medicine.
“My dream is to bridge global innovation with local needs, creating a healthcare future where regenerative medicine is homegrown, sustainable and transformative for Africa.
“I envision a future where regenerative medicine is accessible, affordable and impactful for everyday people in Nigeria and West Africa.
“I dream of a Nigeria where chronic pain and degenerative diseases are treated with cutting-edge regenerative therapies; local doctors and scientists are trained to carry forward these innovations.
“I also look forward to Nigeria becoming a regional leader in regenerative medicine, exporting expertise and solutions to neighbouring countries,” Ikudayisi added.
