The President of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) Prof. Mohammad Aminu has
stated that in order to reduce migration of well-trained Nigerian doctors, there is an urgent need to prioritize their welfare and increase investment in critical infrastructures in the country.
According to him, Federal government should also review remuneration and allowances, inclusion of members in the current government housing schemes, robust intramural practice and special healthcare funding at a single digit interest to enable diversification and development of public private partnership.
Our correspondent reports that MDCAN is a professional body of all specialist Medical and Dental practitioners which provide medical services in tertiary health institutions at federal and states levels and teaching and training of undergraduate Medical and Dental Students in federal and states owned Universities, training of postgraduate Medical and Dental Doctors in the country to specialist Level as well as conducting cutting age multidisciplinary medical research.
Prof. Aminu stated this while leading members of the National Executive Council (NEC) on a courtesy visit to Mr. President in Abuja in continuation of their advocacy visits to critical stakeholders as regard to the welfare of its members and the challenges bedeviling health sector.
MDCAN in a statement issued in Jos by its publicity secretary Dr Godwin Adgidzi urged Federal government to conduct training and re-training for Medical doctors within Nigeria and abroad to keep them abreast with global best practices adding that, this will encourage new skills acquisition and super specialisation.
He said there is urgent need to also convened a healthcare and education summit to enable government, its partners and stake holders discuss critically the policies of government such as increasing enrolment of healthcare students so as to ensure its effectiveness and maximise its benefits.
The statement further urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the harmonization of payment with CONMESS Salary structure for consultants, increase in the retirement age for Hospital Consultants to 70 years and as a matter of fact review CONMESS salary structure and allowances among other demands.
He also disclosed that half of their members (Honourary Consultants) are primarily teaching in the various Universities of learning, mainly in the Faculties of Dentistry, Faculties of Basic Clinical Sciences and Faculties of Clinical Sciences, domiciled with the Colleges of Health or Medical Sciences of our various Universities.
According to him, remaining half (Hospital Consultants) working with the various teaching hospitals and Federal medical centre lamenting that the two categories mentioned above share everything in common in terms of their training and qualification, but they are remunerated differently, with the later placed appropriately on CONMESS salary scale, while the former are being denied the same salary scale and the former retire at 70 and the later 60 years.
“This development should be addressed as soon as possible to reduce the scourge of migration of the highly trained manpower from our hospitals and medical schools and increase medical teachers taking up university positions to support the government’s policy of doubling enrolment and production of well-trained Doctors.”
MDCAN commended President Bola Tinubu renewed hope agenda for the numerous achievements recoded under the stewardship of dedicated Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare Professor Ali Pate.
According to the statement, the ongoing reforms in the sector such as the unbundling of the healthcare economy, improving local manufacturing of drugs and consumables, restoring funding for heath professional regulatory councils, waiver for employment of critical core clinical human resource, improved welfare for healthcare workers, and most importantly the increased number of enrolment of core Healthcare training institutions will certainly make Nigeria to be self sufficient in the next few years.
The statement also assured MDCAN total commitment and support to President Tinubu led Federal government to achieve all the laudable health, education and other programs laid out for the benefit of Nigerians.
President Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate assured the doctors that he would convey their message to Mr. President for prompt action.
According to the Minister, the President has prioritized health sector as some of their concerns were already being addressed.
He urged the association to see the Ministry of Health as a worthy partner in progress for the over all development and progress of the sector.
The Minister further noted that he is confident that the President will address some of the issues raised within the limits of Presidential power.
Other officials who were present during the courtesy visit includes, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms Kachollom Daju, the Director, Hospital Services, Dr Jimoh Salaudeen and Director, Human Resource Management Ms Tetshoma T Dafeta, among.
