Mathew Amaechi
Nigeria’s healthcare system is facing a severe crisis as the number of medical consultants in the country has dwindled to just 6,000, according to the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN).
This alarming revelation was made by MDCAN President, Prof. Muhammad Mohammad, during the association’s National Executive Council meeting in Ilorin.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that about 1,700 consultants are above 55 years old and will retire in the next five years. With the country producing only one or two medical consultants per annum, the replacement rate cannot keep up with the loss due to retirement and the “Japa” syndrome (a term used to describe the mass migration of Nigerian professionals abroad).
Mohammad commended the government’s efforts to address the challenges but appealed for more to be done. He urged the government to ensure medical lecturers are placed on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to address disparities in their emoluments. The MDCAN president also emphasized the need for an environment that allows medical professionals to deliver quality healthcare services.
The brain drain in Nigeria’s healthcare sector has severe implications for the country’s ability to provide quality medical services to its citizens. With a significant shortage of medical consultants, the sector is under immense pressure, and urgent action is needed to address the crisis.