The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has called on the Federal and state governments to issue circulars harmonizing the retirement age for hospital consultants to 70 years for doctors and 65 years for other healthcare workers.
This appeal was made to ensure consistency and address ongoing issues in the healthcare sector.
In a communique released in Jos, the Plateau State capital, following MDCAN’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the association highlighted several critical concerns. The communique, signed by MDCAN President Prof. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed and Secretary General Dr. Daiyabu Alhaji Ibrahim, emphasized the persistent issues related to the shortfall in salaries of clinical lecturers (Honorary Consultants) due to non-payment under the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
“If not addressed, these issues will undermine the sustainable production of the healthcare workforce,” the communique warned.
MDCAN called for strategic planning by the government and stakeholders to ensure all Nigerians have financial, geographical, and functional access to quality healthcare. “The various steps outlined in the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) should be properly followed,” the communique stated, adding that MDCAN and other critical stakeholders should be involved for effective healthcare delivery.
The association also urged the government to address the long-standing demand for the universal application of CONMESS to all qualified medical and dental university lecturers in the Colleges of Medicine/Health Sciences across various universities.
They stressed the need for deliberate efforts to improve human resources and infrastructure, such as classrooms and laboratories, to accommodate the increasing number of medical students without compromising training standards.
“The increase in the numbers of medical students admitted should be followed up by deliberate efforts by the Federal Government to increase human resources and improve infrastructures such as classrooms, laboratories, and simulation laboratories for effective training of medical students,” the communique read.
MDCAN reiterated its role as a critical stakeholder in the training of medical students and doctors, calling for involvement in decision-making processes affecting their training. The association believes that addressing these issues is crucial for the advancement of Nigeria’s healthcare system and the well-being of its citizens.