FG targets 20,000 annual medical admissions, plans simulation centres nationwide

The Federal Government is targeting 20,000 annual admissions into Nigerian medical schools within the next three years and plans to establish medical simulation centres across the country’s six geo-political zones.

The move is aimed at expanding the healthcare workforce amid persistent concerns over the migration of medical professionals.

Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the plans on Sunday after receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee.

What the FG is saying

Alausa said the centres will provide world-class practical training for students in medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, and other allied health professions, with the government targeting a further increase in medical school admissions to 20,000 annually within the next three years.

He said the scale of enrolment growth across healthcare programmes had made expanded practical training infrastructure a matter of urgency.

Nursing enrolment has risen from approximately 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 across nursing schools in Nigeria, he said.

Admissions into pharmacy and dental schools have also doubled, he added, further increasing the number of healthcare trainees requiring access to practical facilities.

• “Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students primarily now. Our goal in the next three years will increase the number of annual medical student enrollment in medical school to about 20,000,” he said.

On the simulation centres, Alausa commended the Medical Simulation Committee for its work in preparing the report and advancing plans for the proposed facilities.

• “I would like to thank the members of the committee that have worked so hard and assiduously to get us to this point in which we are now talking about building…