The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has raised alarms over the declining number of medical consultants in the country, revealing that only 6,000 consultants remain as of February 2024. This marks a significant decrease, with about 1,300 consultants leaving the country in the last five years alone.
MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, made this statement on Thursday during the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting in Ilorin. He highlighted that the country faces a growing shortage of medical professionals, as the retirement age for consultants is 60, and many are nearing retirement.
According to Mohammad, approximately 1,700 consultants are currently above 55 years of age, which means they will likely retire in the next five years. He noted that the country only produces one or two new consultants per year, making it difficult to replace those lost due to the “Japa” syndrome—the mass migration of Nigerian professionals abroad in search of better opportunities.
“This is a serious issue because the replacement cannot keep up with the loss from both the ‘Japa’ syndrome and retirement,” Mohammad explained. The association expressed concern that this trend would further strain the country’s already overstretched healthcare system.
While acknowledging the government’s efforts to address these challenges, Mohammad appealed to all levels of government to include medical lecturers in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and to work toward eliminating pay disparities among healthcare professionals. He also called for a better working environment to ensure that Nigeria’s medical consultants can deliver high-quality healthcare.
As the situation grows more critical, MDCAN continues to advocate for urgent reforms to stem the tide of emigration and improve the conditions for healthcare professionals in Nigeria.
