<a href="http://prolocumsng.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ProLocums</a>, a platform which offers doctors and other medical professionals the opportunity to take on gig opportunities in their line of work, has been launched in Lagos. The platform was unveiled at a launch ceremony on Friday. 
Nigeria is witnessing a gross shortage of medical professionals. The reasons range from a shortage of qualified medical workers, most of whom prefer to relocate abroad for greener pastures, to the inability of hospitals and medical facilities to maintain full-time positions. Even the ones who do, lack the funds to adequately remunerate them. In the end, most of them end up relocating for better working conditions. 
As its name implies, ProLocums aims to help medical facilities fill up these roles as they arise, on a gig-work/locum basis. (Locum refers to a professional who stands in for someone else of the same profession). As such, it helps them guarantee the availability of medical workers without paying so much for them. It also gives the workers the opportunity to put in some extra work in their spare time and make good money while at it. 
Describing it as a digital marketplace for medical professionals, Founder and CEO, Feyi Adeyemi told Technext that he was moved to establish the platform following an unsavoury personal experience. The UK-based pharmacist said he returned home to Nigeria in search of a medical technician only to discover there was nowhere he could easily find one. 
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 “I was stuck because there was no professional network for medical workers. I decided to join a WhatsApp group but this was like a waste of my time because it took really long for someone to respond to my query, whenever they did. You know how WhatsApp groups are, you could get 200 messages waiting and you just scroll down without reading. It was frustrating.”<cite>Feyi Adeyemi</cite>
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It was with that experience that he decided to establish such a platform in Nigeria. The company said its mission is to bridge the gap in the healthcare industry by offering a wide range of opportunities for medical doctors, medical officers, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, optometrists, nurses, medical lab scientists, physiotherapists, veterinary doctors, auxiliary nurses, pharmacy technicians, and dental assistants. 
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 Feyi Adeyemi, Founder/CEO of ProLocums
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Speaking at the launch, Feyi expressed his excitement at the development. He said the platform aims to transform how healthcare professionals connect with locum (fill-in) opportunities that match their expertise and availability, with a strong focus on a pressing challenge in the healthcare sector. 
“We are excited to introduce ProLocums to the Nigerian healthcare community. If you want a ride, you have the Uber app. If you want to buy or sell appliances, you have the Jiji app. So why can’t we have one for healthcare which is one of the most important sectors? Our platform is designed to empower healthcare professionals by providing them with convenient and efficient access to locum opportunities that align with their expertise and schedules,” he told Technext. 
<h2 id="nigerias-healthcare-conundrum">Nigeria’s healthcare conundrum</h2> 
The Nigerian healthcare sector has grappled with numerous difficulties, including a shortage of skilled professionals, inadequate coordination, and issues related to salaries and welfare. These challenges have resulted in a significant portion of healthcare practitioners seeking employment opportunities abroad, leaving gaps in the local healthcare workforce. 
According to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), approximately 3,000 to 3,500 doctors graduate from medical colleges annually. However, despite the importance of these professionals, a significant portion of them remain either unemployed or underemployed. In recent years, the underemployment rate among doctors has reached approximately 65%, with similar challenges faced by nurses, midwives, and other healthcare practitioners. 
ProLocums enters the Nigerian healthcare landscape to offer underemployed healthcare professionals the opportunity to be more gainfully employed. By offering a comprehensive platform that connects professionals with gig opportunities across the country, the company aims to reduce unemployment and underemployment rates among healthcare practitioners. The platform’s connectivity extends beyond immediate communities, providing practitioners with the means to work in areas with the greatest need. 
According to Feyi, the platform is a new locum service which specialises in helping Nigerian and expat Healthcare professionals find additional shifts based on their profession and availability. The company works with medical doctors, medical officers, dentists, pharmacists, midwives, optometrists, nurses, medical lab scientists, physiotherapists, veterinary doctors, auxiliary nurses, pharmacy technicians, and dental assistants. 
“Our platform’s user-friendly interface simplifies the process of finding locum opportunities, ensuring that healthcare professionals can focus on what they do best—providing exceptional care to patients. ProLocums takes pride in offering a&nbsp;comprehensive and accessible platform that caters to the diverse needs of the healthcare workforce, promoting flexibility and career advancement,” he said. 
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 ProLocums team
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<h3 id="key-features-of-prolocums-app">Key features of ProLocums app</h3> 
Intelligent Matchmaking: Powered by advanced algorithms, ProLocum’s platform swiftly matches healthcare professionals with positions that align with their qualifications and preferences, reducing the time and effort required for recruitment. 
Seamless Platform: The platform offers a seamless and hassle-free process from start to finish. ProLocums’ user-friendly platform simplifies applying for locum shifts, going on-call, submitting timesheets, and uploading documents 24/7. 
Flexibility: Our platform empowers healthcare professionals with a robust calendar management system, offering control and flexibility over their schedules. 
Reliability:&nbsp; We offer better value to our clients and provide a completely free and unmatched service to healthcare professionals. We’re dedicated to full regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to quality, safety, and learning. 
Transparent Communication: Fostering transparent communication between healthcare professionals and facilities, ProLocums promotes collaboration and trust throughout the staffing journey. 
See also: <a href="https://technext24.com/2021/09/06/lack-of-doctors-the-biggest-telemedicine-challenge-mymedicalbank-ceo-ayo-adebamowo/">‘Lack of doctors the biggest telemedicine challenge’</a>

ProLocums, a gig app revolutionizing healthcare staffing launches in Nigeria

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