“I Won’t Run” — Nigerian Doctor Rejects Japa Trend

Dr. Anumiri Chidozie Pascal, a Nigerian medical doctor and founder of the digital healthcare platform Pandacare, has declared his intention to remain in Nigeria and contribute to the improvement of its deteriorating health sector, despite the ongoing mass exodus of medical professionals.

Speaking during a programme on Max FM Abuja, Dr. Chidozie revealed that statistics show over 50 Nigerian doctors leave the country every week, a development that he said has taken a toll on the nation’s healthcare system.

“I’ve witnessed hospitals where nurses are made to fill in for doctors. Patients are forced to wait for hours before receiving attention, and often have to visit multiple hospitals before accessing proper care,” he explained.

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He also decried the poor state of emergency medical services in Nigeria, noting that long response times have rendered the term ‘emergency’ meaningless in many cases.

“The healthcare system is in crisis. When it takes more than 30 minutes to access emergency help, it can no longer be called an emergency,” he stated.

Dr. Chidozie further shared a personal account of losing a loved one due to these systemic failures, which inspired him to take action by launching Pandacare — a digital platform designed to provide on-demand emergency ambulance services and mobile healthcare access.

“Pandacare is essentially the ‘Bolt’ for healthcare. With just a few clicks, users can access emergency medical services or consult with a doctor from wherever they are,” he said.

He assured the public that the platform is affordable and that a subscription model is being introduced to enable consistent access to medical care.

In terms of quality control, he confirmed that all doctors on the Pandacare platform undergo strict verification, including license checks and orientation training to ensure they are qualified to deliver services when required.