Brain-drain of health staff ‘a global concern’ |26 March 2010

She was speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday, after a question from the elected member for Bel Ombre, Nicholas Prea, about the number of nurses and doctors who have stopped working with the ministry since 2008.
Opposition leader Wavel Ramkalawan put the question in the absence of Mr Prea.

Mrs Lloyd said 19 doctors and 30 nurses have resigned from the ministry since 2008 for various reasons. The nurses’ total includes three who asked for a transfer from the ministry, but there was one who returned, meaning a net loss of 29.

Among the overall total of 57 nurses who have left, 27 resigned, 27 retired as well as the three who asked for a transfer.
Mrs Lloyd said: “The issue of the doctors’ and nurses’ brain-drain is a global phenomenon, which is also a concern of bodies such as the World Health Organisation,” she added.

In 2009 when the policy regarding human resources was being revised, an exercise was done to look into the matter, she explained. It showed that these professionals either left to work overseas or moved to another post for better working conditions, salary and greater exposure.

“The human resources staff have also started an exit interview to talk to and counsel those who have decided to resign,” said Mrs Lloyd.

The elected member for Pointe Larue, Jennifer Vel, wanted to know how many new nurses and doctors have been recruited since 2008.

Mrs Lloyd said 28 new doctors and 50 new nurses have started since then.
There are now 424 nurses working with the ministry and there are 33 vacancies. There are 10 vacancies for doctors, and some specialists are also in the process of being recruited.

Mrs Lloyd also spoke about the telemedicine pilot project between the Seychelles and the Indian governments, following another question from Mr Prea.

She said the project was extended to all African countries, and Seychelles was among the first to start procedures to set up this medical service.

“It is of great benefit to our specialists as they can get a second opinion from their colleagues in Fortis Healthcare in India,” she said.

The government does not send any of its patients to Fortis hospitals but is now negotiating with the Indian high commissioner to see if the service can be extended to hospitals where we do send patients for treatment, she added.

The telemedicine service is used under the guidance of a technician who is based here and paid by the Indian government.

It will move into the new diagnostic unit at Victoria hospital as soon as this is completed, so as to be more accessible to specialists.