The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has revealed that the country is now left with only 6,000 medical consultants.
It was reported that MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, announced during the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State, themed “Policy Making for Quality Healthcare Services: Engaging Policy Makers for Quality Healthcare Delivery.”
Prof. Mohammad highlighted that as of February 2024, the number of consultants had dwindled to just 6,000, with around 1,300 leaving the country over the last five years.
He warned that the situation would worsen as the retirement age for medical consultants is 60, with about 1,700 consultants currently over 55 years old.
“The number of consultants will continue to decrease, especially since only one or two are trained annually, which is insufficient to replace those leaving due to the ‘Japa’ syndrome and retirement,” Mohammad stated.
The MDCAN president called on the government to raise the retirement age for consultants to 70 and extend the retirement age for other healthcare workers to 65. This, he argued, would help retain experienced professionals in the healthcare sector. Mohammad also urged for the inclusion of medical lecturers in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to address salary disparities.
Dr. Amina El-Imam, Kwara State’s Commissioner for Health, endorsed the NEC meeting’s theme, emphasizing that effective policies are vital for delivering quality healthcare. She stressed the importance of targeting the right segments and customizing policies to meet local needs.
In his address, Guest Speaker Amos Magaji, a lawmaker from Kaduna State, emphasized the importance of policymaking in ensuring access to healthcare, citing the National Health Insurance Authority as a critical step in providing universal coverage.
Prof. Tanimola Akande, a Public Health consultant at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, advised doctors to prioritize self-care and health maintenance through regular check-ups and exercise.
Dr. Kazeem Ibrahim, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the MDCAN-NEC meeting, noted that while many policies have been introduced in the past, they had not effectively improved the health of vulnerable Nigerians.
He reiterated that the meeting would focus on solutions to the challenges facing the healthcare sector, particularly the ‘Japa’ syndrome driving healthcare workers abroad due to poor working conditions.
