Connect with us

Health

Japa: Nigeria Left with Only 6,000 Consultants – MDCAN Warns of Further Decline

Published

on

  • MDCAN reports only 6,000 medical consultants in Nigeria, with 1,300 leaving in 5 years.
  • Calls for raising retirement age to 70 and addressing salary disparities.
  • Urges better policies and conditions to retain healthcare professionals.

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has revealed that the country is now left with only 6,000 medical consultants.

EKO HOT BLOG reports 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.

EDITOR’S PICKS 

“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.

FURTHER READING

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.

NMA Students Abducted

NMA Students Abducted

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.

Click HERE For Our Video Of The Week




Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:

Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.

Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.

Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611




 

 

 


DISCLAIMER: Opinion articles are solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers Of  EKO HOT BLOG

For publication of your News Contents, articles, Videos or any other News Worthy Materials, please send to [email protected]

For Advert and other info, you can call 08035617233 or send a WhatsApp Message to 08035617233.

Please drop your comments

Copyright © Ekohotblog

MGID