Health/Lifestyle

Brain drain hits Nigeria’s healthcare, MDCAN reports just 6,000 medical consultants left

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) revealed that only about 6,000 medical consultants are currently practicing in the country, down from higher numbers in previous years.

The association’s president, Muhammad Mohammad, shared this troubling news during MDCAN’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State. The meeting, themed “Policy Making for Quality Healthcare Services: Engaging Policy Makers for Quality Healthcare Delivery,” highlighted the growing issue of healthcare workers leaving the country in what is being referred to as the ‘Japa’ syndrome.

Mr. Mohammad pointed out that as of February 2024, Nigeria had only 6,000 consultants remaining. Alarmingly, data also revealed that approximately 1,300 consultants had left Nigeria over the past five years. This outflow is expected to continue as many consultants, particularly those aged above 55, near retirement. “About 1,700 consultants are above 55 years of age, and they are expected to retire in the next five years,” Mohammad said.

He further emphasized that the rate of new consultant production is too low to replace those leaving due to migration or retirement. “Currently, only one or two new consultants are produced each year, which means the country’s healthcare system cannot keep up with the loss,” he added.

To address these challenges, Mr. Mohammad called on the government to extend the retirement age for medical and dental consultants from 60 to 70 years, and for other healthcare workers to serve up to 65 years. This, he believes, would help retain skilled professionals in the country and prevent further depletion of expertise.

The MDCAN president also appealed for better pay structures for healthcare workers. He urged that medical lecturers be placed on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to help bridge the wage gap and reduce disparities in emoluments.

In the same vein, Amina El-Imam, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, stressed that well-crafted and locally tailored policies are crucial for improving the delivery of quality healthcare services to Nigerians. She highlighted the importance of effective dissemination of healthcare policies to ensure they benefit the intended populations.

Amos Magaji, a lawmaker from Kaduna State and guest speaker at the event, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of policies like the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to ensure access to healthcare for all citizens.

Meanwhile, Tanimola Akande, a consultant in public health at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, urged healthcare professionals to prioritize their own health, suggesting regular check-ups and exercise as part of their self-care routines.

The MDCAN meeting concluded with a call for action to tackle the growing challenges faced by the country’s healthcare sector, including the ongoing brain drain. The meeting’s organizers, led by Kazeem Ibrahim, noted that past policies had failed to address the needs of vulnerable citizens and that new, more effective solutions were needed.

 

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