The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has raised concerns about the dwindling number of medical consultants in the country. According to Professor Muhammad Mohammad, the president of MDCAN, only 6,000 consultants are left in Nigeria as of February 2024. This number has been declining due to various factors, including the “Japa” syndrome, which refers to the migration of health workers from Nigeria to other countries in search of better working conditions.
Mohammad noted that about 1,300 medical consultants have left Nigeria in the last five years, and this trend is expected to continue. With a retirement age of 60 years, approximately 1,700 consultants are approaching retirement, which will further reduce the number of available consultants. The country’s low production rate of medical consultants, with only one or two being produced annually, exacerbates the problem.
The MDCAN president emphasized the need for urgent action to address the challenges facing the healthcare sector. He commended the government’s efforts to find solutions but stressed that more needs to be done. Mohammad suggested that allowing consultants to serve up to 70 years, while other healthcare workers continue to serve up to 65 years, could help retain experienced professionals in the field.
In addition to addressing the shortage of medical consultants, the MDCAN meeting also highlighted the importance of policymaking in healthcare delivery. Dr. Amos Magaji, a lawmaker representing Kaduna State, emphasized that healthcare is fundamental to life and that policies like the National Health Insurance Authority can ensure that Nigerians receive quality healthcare services.
To address the challenges facing the healthcare sector, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, stressed the need for targeted policies that cater to the specific needs of different segments of the population. She also emphasized the importance of effective dissemination of policies to end-users.
The meeting concluded with a call to action, urging the government to take concrete steps to address the challenges facing the healthcare sector, including the shortage of medical consultants and the “Japa” syndrome.
