The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has raised concerns over the dwindling number of medical consultants in the country, revealing that only 6,000 remain as of February 2024. This alarming figure was shared by the association’s president, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, during their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin. The meeting, themed “Policy Making for Quality Healthcare Services: Engaging Policy Makers for Quality Healthcare Delivery,” highlighted the impact of the “Japa” syndrome (mass migration) and retirements on the healthcare sector.
Prof. Mohammad explained that the country has lost about 1,300 consultants to migration in the last five years, with more expected to leave in the near future. He pointed out that approximately 1,700 consultants are over the age of 55, meaning they will soon retire, exacerbating the shortage. The number of consultants produced annually is insufficient to replace those leaving due to migration and retirement, leading to a concerning gap in the healthcare workforce.
The MDCAN president also called on the government to implement policies that would allow medical and dental consultants to work until the age of 70, and for other healthcare workers to extend their service to 65 years. This, he said, would ensure that the expertise of those who remain in the country continues to benefit the healthcare system.
Mohammad further appealed to the government to place medical lecturers on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), addressing pay disparities among healthcare professionals. He stressed the importance of creating an environment that would enable healthcare workers to deliver quality services.
In support of the call for policy change, Dr. Amina El-Imam, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, emphasized the importance of appropriate policies to help the government improve the quality of healthcare services available to citizens.
