“Revamping the Activities of Association of Medical Schools in Africa will Reduce Medical Tourism,” says UI DVC

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration of the University of Ibadan, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, FNPA, fspsp, has said that revamping the activities of the Association of Medical Schools in Africa will reduce medical tourism to the Western world.

He made this statement on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp, while receiving members of the local organizing committee of the Association of Medical Schools in Africa (AMSA) Medical Education Conference scheduled to hold in 2026. 

While commending its founding fathers, Professor Olapegba affirmed that AMSA was established in 1961 and has, over the years, facilitated networking and exchange of ideas and experiences among its members through meetings and student exchange programmes.

He decried the “Japa” syndrome which has led to a depletion of the association’s strength and made its activities to dwindle in recent years, expressing concern that Africa has become a training ground for medical personnel who are in turn lost to practice in the western countries. 

The DVC expressed the hope that the conference will create awareness and serve as a platform to advocate an all-inclusive approach to training African doctors to solve African problems, thereby harnessing the intellectual strength of the continent and reducing medical tourism by the elite class of the continent. 

He appreciated AMSA for situating its secretariat in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, pledging the support of the university for its activities. 

The LOC Co-Chairman, Professor O.A. Fasanmade of the University of Lagos disclosed that the theme of the conference is: “Increasing Capacity and Retention of the Health Workforce in Africa”. 

He informed the DVC that the right to host the event in Nigeria was a great honour and would benefit its health ecosystem, stating that the conference is being co-hosted by the Colleges of Medicine of the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Lagos State University. 

In his remarks, the Provost of the UI College of Medicine, Professor Temidayo Ogundiran stated that brain drain, the COVID 19 pandemic and inadequate funding led to the passivity of AMSA, therefore, the conference would serve the purpose of reviving the association and gather professionals across Africa to brainstorm. 

He added that the annual meeting of the World Federation for Medical Education Executive Council will be held within the period of the conference.