From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has expressed alarm over the Federal Government’s failure to implement a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in August 2024.
The non-implementation, outlined in a communiqué issued following MDCAN’s NEC meeting in Katsina, Katsina State, is increasing operational costs, burdening hospitals with indigent patients and threatening quality healthcare delivery.
The communiqué, signed by MDCAN President Prof. Mohammad Aminu and Secretary General Prof. Daiyabu Alhaji, stressed the urgency of fulfilling the subsidy promise. “MDCAN is passionate about the well-being of patients and Nigerians. Concerted efforts must be made to address this issue and honour the commitment to subsidising electricity for public hospitals,” it stated.
The meeting, themed “Enhancing National Health Security: The Critical Role of Medical and Dental Consultants in Promoting Equity and Innovation in Nigeria’s Economically Challenging Landscape”, with a subtheme on managing the PhD/Fellowship dichotomy, noted multiple healthcare challenges.
MDCAN demanded an immediate halt to the consultant pharmacy cadre to maintain order in patient care and avoid crises. It also called for the urgent implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the universal application of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to address pay disparities between doctors in federal and state institutions. The association plans to engage the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and state governors to curb internal migration from state to federal hospitals.
The communiqué raised concerns about rising inflation and petroleum product prices, which increase healthcare costs and reduce access to services and drugs. MDCAN urged the government to consider lowering fuel prices to boost citizens’ economic power. It reiterated that the Fellowship of Medical Postgraduate Colleges is the highest qualification for medical training and career progression, rejecting PhD requirements for medical consultants.
MDCAN commended Education Minister Dr Morufu Tunji for improving medical lecturers’ welfare, supporting the government’s goal to double medical student enrolment and postgraduate training. It also praised Health Ministers Prof. Muhammed Pate and Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako for securing presidential approval to increase doctors’ retirement age to 70 and other healthcare workers to 65, addressing workforce shortages amid migration.