The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria ( MDCAN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving an increment in the retirement age for medical consultants to 70 and other core skilled/clinical healthcare workers to 65 years.
MDCAN President Prof. Mohammad Aminu gave the commendation while speaking to newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Our correspondent reports that MDCAN over the years have been in the forefront of championing the request for the increase in retirement age of its members to 70 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer, and for quality healthcare delivery.
According to him, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, who played the critical role in getting the approval from Mr. President was advised to do the need-full in formalising the approval.
He explained that Pate had conveyed the policy shift during a high-level meeting with executives of MDCAN, NMA, and other key critical stakeholders in the health sector.
Prof Aminu also stated that their discussions centred on progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals stressing that the Coordinating Minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure are set for payment.
On why Medical Consultants should retire at the age of 70 years Prof. Aminu argued that the extension of service years to 70 years allows Consultants to attain 35 years in
service like other civil servants.
He pointed out that the average minimal age of graduation from Medical Schools these days is
about 24-25 years stressing that one year Housemanship and one year NYSC lands the young Doctor at 27 years.
According to him, undertaking Residency Training programme from Primary Fellowship
Exams to Exit at Part two, takes minimum of 6-7 years but can extend to 10 or
more years.
“At the end of Residency, the young Doctor lands at minimum age of 34/35 years
and sometimes extends to 40 years at the time of being appointed a Consultant, if he is lucky within one year of completing the programme.”
The MDCAN boss further pointed out that at 60 years of age, a hospital Consultant has only put in 20-25 years in service
and retires losing 10-15 of active service years, adding that with the current devaluation of the Naira to N1,700 to $1.00 dollar, a young Consultant’s monthly Salary on CONMESS Salary structure crashes from
$5,000.00 in 2014 to about $500.00 in November 2024.
“Saudi Arabia and some foreign countries still offer Medical Consultants
salaries of $5,000-7,000.00 per month like we did in Nigeria in 2014, hence the
Mass migration (Jappa Syndrome) to beat early retirement and at least meet up with family needs and expectations.”
Prof. Aminu explained that this analysis should help push and achieve upward review of retirement age
for Medical Consultants as for Professors in the Universities and Judges in the Judiciary noting that other health workers do take up appointments at 25 -30 years of age and can
attain 35 years in service by 60- 65 years of age.
He further lauded the efforts of President Bola Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development Prof. Mohammad Pete, the Hon
Minister of state for health Dr I. A. Salako, the Hon. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment Muhammad Dingyadi and other critical stakeholders for their roles this far, adding that MDCAN will continue to monitor the process till logical conclusion .
“We will reciprocate this gesture of Mr President and his team, by striving to continue to provide quality healthcare services to Nigerians and assist the government to achieve its set goals in healthcare, training and research”, Prof. Aminu enthused .