Doctor advocates regenerative medicine to reverse brain drain in nation’s health sector

A Nigerian-American physician and pioneer in regenerative medicine, Dr. David Ikudayisi, has said Nigeria can stem the persistent brain drain in its health sector and emerge as a hub for advanced medical care in Africa through deliberate investment in cutting-edge healthcare practices.

Ikudayisi said the mass migration of medical professionals was not irreversible, noting that the right blend of policies, infrastructure and incentives could retain skilled practitioners while attracting international confidence in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, he stressed that sustained investment in modern facilities, improved welfare for health workers and strong institutional support for specialised medical fields would significantly reduce the factors pushing doctors to seek opportunities abroad.

“The solutions are not abstract,” he said. “Competitive remuneration, decent working conditions, access to modern equipment, continuous postgraduate training and credible incentives for research will keep our best hands at home. Health workers want to feel valued, supported and given room to grow.”

Ikudayisi, Founder and Medical Director of Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, said migration pressures would ease if governments at all levels treated healthcare as a strategic sector critical to national development.

Born in Ondo State and trained in Europe and the United States, Ikudayisi is a United States board-certified physician in internal medicine, with specialisations in regenerative medicine, geriatrics and pain management.

He said his exposure to regenerative therapies began in Paris in 1995, while his full clinical practice took shape in the 2010s with the establishment of medical centres in the United States and later Nigeria.

Explaining the concept, he described regenerative medicine as a major shift in global healthcare, moving beyond symptom management to the repair of damaged biological structures.

“Regenerative medicine helps the body heal itself by restoring damaged cells, tissues and organs so that normal function can return,” he said.

According to him, the field is now widely applied in orthopaedics and sports medicine, particularly in the treatment of arthritis, joint degeneration, ligament and tendon injuries, chronic wounds and pain-related conditions.

Its applications, he added, are expanding into stroke recovery, diabetes-related complications and sexual dysfunction, with growing clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness.

Ikudayisi said Nigeria no longer needed to rely on overseas treatment for such advanced care, noting that Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, originally founded in Florida, now operates in Lekki, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

He explained that regenerative therapies could improve joint tissue health in arthritis patients, support stroke recovery by reducing harmful inflammation, enhance blood flow and wound healing in diabetics, and address sexual dysfunction through improved circulation, nerve recovery and tissue strength.

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Beyond patient care, he said the adoption of regenerative medicine would deliver long-term benefits to the health system, including reduced medical tourism, stronger medical infrastructure and the development of advanced skills such as cell processing and imaging-guided procedures.

“If Nigeria builds credible regenerative centres with proper governance, transparent outcomes and ethical practices aligned with regulatory standards, we will not only retain talent but also attract patients from across Africa,” he said.

Looking ahead, Ikudayisi said his vision was to make regenerative medicine accessible and affordable to ordinary Nigerians, driven by local doctors and scientists.

“I envision a Nigeria where healthcare innovation is home-grown, sustainable and transformative, and where we export expertise and solutions to the rest of Africa,” he added.