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 with journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

DAILY POST recalls that MDCAN over the years had 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 formalizing the approval.

He explained that the minister had conveyed the policy shift during a high-level meeting with executives of MDCAN, NMA, and other key critical stakeholders in the health sector.

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 were set for payment.

On why Medical Consultants should retire at the age of 70 years, the MDCAN President argued that the extension of service 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.

He added that 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,” he said.

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.

He maintained 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,” he stated.

“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”, Aminu stressed.

MDCAN hails FG for approving 70yrs retirement age for members, 65 for others