- The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has welcomed the federal government’s fifty-million-naira reduction in electricity tariffs for public health institutions.
- MDCAN expressed concerns over salary shortfalls for clinical lecturers and urged the government to address workforce challenges and invest in medical training to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has supported the federal government’s decision to reduce electricity tariffs by fifty million naira for public health and educational institutions.
In a communiqué following its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Jos, themed “Health as a Sustainable Development Goal in Nigeria: Celebrating Our Success and Strategizing for the Future,” MDCAN called for similar support to be extended to state-owned and private health facilities that serve Nigerians.
The communiqué, signed by President Prof. Aminu Mohammad and Secretary Prof. Daiyabu Ibrahim, emphasised that universal energy subsidies would enhance healthcare delivery nationwide. However, MDCAN also raised concerns about the government’s failure to address salary shortfalls for clinical lecturers, known as Honorary Consultants, due to the non-payment of salaries in line with the CONMESS scale.
Additionally, the association criticised the government for not responding to calls for increasing and harmonising the retirement age for hospital consultants and healthcare workers. This lack of action has contributed to workforce migration and excessive workloads, leading to burnout within the healthcare system.
MDCAN also highlighted the need to double medical school quotas to train more doctors but lamented that insufficient human resources and infrastructure investments have hindered the practical and quality training required to meet this goal.
MDCAN concluded the communiqué by emphasising the urgent need for the federal government to prioritise healthcare reforms as part of its commitment to sustainable development. The association called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address pressing issues, including improved funding for medical training, better working conditions for healthcare professionals, and effective retention strategies to combat workforce migration.
By fostering an environment conducive to healthcare delivery and professional satisfaction, MDCAN believes Nigeria can enhance its overall health outcomes and ensure that medical facilities are adequately equipped to serve the population.