Personnel brain-drain syndrome and quality healthcare delivery among public healthcare workforce in Nigeria

Abstract

PurposeThe mass exodus of the professional healthcare workforce has become a cankerworm for a developing nation like Nigeria, and this worsens the already depleted healthcare systems in underdeveloped nation. This study investigated the rationale behind medical workers' brain-drain syndrome and the quality healthcare delivery in the Nigerian public healthcare sector.Design/methodology/approachTo stimulate an understanding of the effect of the phenomenon called brain drain, the study adopted a diagnostic research design to survey the public healthcare personnel in government hospitals. The study administered a battery of adapted research scales of different measures to confirm the variables of interest of this study on a probability sampling strategy. The study surveyed 450 public healthcare sector employees from four government hospitals to gather pertinent data. The study used a structural equation model (SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANNs) to analyse the collected data from the medical personnel of government hospitals.FindingsThe findings of this study are significant as postulated. The study discovered that poor quality worklife experienced by Nigerian medical personnel was attributed to the brain-drain effect and poor healthcare delivery. The study further demonstrated that job dissatisfaction suffered among the public healthcare workforce forced the workforce to migrate to the international labour market, and this same factor is a reason for poor healthcare delivery. Lastly, the study discovered that inadequate remuneration and pay discouraged Nigerian professionals and allied healthcare workers from being productive and ultimately pushed them to the global market.Originality/valuePractically, this study has shown three major elements that caused the mass movement of Nigerian healthcare personnel to other countries of the world and that seems novel given the peculiarity of the Nigerian labour market. The study is original and novel as much study has not been put forward in the public healthcare sector in Nigeria concerning this phenomenon.

Workaholism and quality of work-life: a psychosocial pathway to brain-drain syndrome

“…With varied poor job resources at employees' disposal (She et al, 2021), workaholic individuals are unable to reduce the potentially negative effect of the high job demands experienced (Akinwale and George, 2020). Also, workaholics have few chances to recuperate and mend adequately from their work sufficiently and this largely affects their QWL (Akinwale and George, 2023). Against this backdrop, there is enough reason to relate that workaholism may adversely affect the QWL of employees across the industry.…”

Brain drain in Pakistan's pharmaceutical industry: factors and solutions

“…The pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan is facing a significant brain drain due to the low compensation and rewards (Nadir et al, 2023) and career growth opportunities (Sancak et al, 2023), which has a significant impact on employee retention (Aman- Ullah et al, 2023). Akinwale and George (2023) have presented evidence that inadequate compensation and pay have demotivated healthcare professionals and workers, which leads toward low productivity, and ultimately, it is pushing them toward the global market to seek better employment. High employee turnover and brain drain are dangerously impacting the developing countries, for example, Pakistan, because these push and pull factors contribute in decision making to switching jobs (Seven & Adadioglu, 2022) and emigrating to other countries in search of better opportunities, higher salaries, and improved living conditions.…”

Trajectory of brain-drain and quality of work-life amongst Nigeria’s university lecturers: academic staff union of universities (ASUU) incessant strike in retrospect

“…The meaning of this is that once you were able to embark on organised migration from Nigeria where your skill sets and competence are not valued and rewarded, never bother to come back again to your country anymore. This abnormal form of scientific exchange between nations, considered by one-way flow in favour of the highly developed nations has not only caused harm to Nigeria's educational institutions but also other fabric of Nigeria as a whole (Akinwale and George, 2022). Currently, now, this theory is pervasive amongst Nigerian youths, and every one of them is striving to run out of their country in search of sustainable QWL.…”

“…Globally, QWL is important to employees everywhere, it exhibits an appealing work environment and centres on improving personnel's ability, knowledge and skills (Akinwale and George, 2020). Effective QWL offers a passionate attitude, gives employees enthusiasm and drive and provokes interpersonal relationships amongst employees (Akinwale and George, 2022). QWL is perceived as an umbrella under which individuals have a sense of fulfilment in their workplace and their commitment towards goal accomplishment.…”

“…The implication of brain-drain to Nigerian academic education systems is poor and shortage of skilled and competent hands that will sustain Nigeria's educational systems. Therefore, this brain-drain phenomenon explains the mass movement of experts and professionals from emerging nations to developed nations for better employment engagement (Akinwale and George, 2022). Brain-drain describes a state whereby professionals are migrating from their nations to other nations in search of enduring QWL.…”