Greg Dyondun
According to the
Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Nigeria is
grappling with a dwindling number of medical consultants, with only 6,000
specialists remaining in the country.
This stark
revelation was made by the MDCAN president, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, during the
association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara
State. Themed “Policy Making for Quality Healthcare Services: Engaging
Policy Makers for Quality Healthcare Delivery,” the event highlighted the
urgent need for policy interventions to address the nation’s healthcare
challenges.
Prof. Mohammad
revealed that as of February 2024, approximately 1,300 consultants had left
Nigeria over the past five years, a trend exacerbated by the retirement age of
60 for medical consultants. He noted that about 1,700 consultants are already
aged 55 and above, predicting a further decline within the next five years as
they approach retirement.
“The current
replacement rate cannot match the rate of loss due to the ‘Japa’ syndrome and
retirements,” Mohammad remarked, pointing out the disparity between the number
of consultants leaving and the nation’s ability to produce new ones.
He urged the
government to address these challenges by placing medical lecturers under the
Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to resolve salary disparities
and improve retention rates.
Speaking at the
event, Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, emphasized the
critical role of sound policies in ensuring quality healthcare delivery.
Similarly, Dr. Amos Magaji, a member of the National Assembly representing
Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, underscored the importance of
policymaking as a cornerstone for improving healthcare outcomes.
In a related
address, Prof. Tanimola Akande, a public health consultant at the University of
Ilorin Teaching Hospital, highlighted the necessity for doctors to prioritize
their well-being, advocating for self-care, regular health check-ups, and
physical exercise.
Prof. Kazeem
Ibrahim, chairman of the local organizing committee for the MDCAN-NEC meeting,
lamented the ineffectiveness of previous healthcare policies in improving the
conditions of vulnerable citizens. He expressed optimism that the meeting would
provide actionable solutions to the healthcare system’s challenges, including
the ‘Japa’ phenomenon—a term used to describe the mass migration of skilled
professionals due to poor working conditions.
The MDCAN’s call
to action underscores the urgency of reversing the trend of medical brain
drain, which poses a severe threat to Nigeria’s already strained healthcare
system.
