Posted on: Fri 04-04-2025

If there was ever a wake-up call about the state of Nigeria’s healthcare system, this is it: the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has revealed that the entire country has only 6,137 medical and dental consultants for a population of over 200 million people. This isn’t just a staffing issue—it’s a crisis of national survival.

Let that number sink in. That’s roughly one consultant for every 32,000 Nigerians—and that’s before you even account for location, specialization, or the fact that over 1,100 have left the country in just five years.

We’re Bleeding Talent and Doing Little to Stop It

It’s heartbreaking but not surprising that Nigeria is losing its top medical minds to countries that offer better pay, working conditions, and respect for the profession. Why wouldn’t they leave? In a country where the average doctor earns a fraction of what their counterparts make abroad, where equipment is outdated and infrastructure crumbling, patriotism alone cannot plug this leak.

And it’s only going to get worse. Nearly 1,800 consultants are over 55 and on track to retire in the next five years. Without swift intervention, we’ll be left with a dangerously thin line of frontline specialists, struggling to carry the weight of a growing population with increasing healthcare demands.

Raising the Retirement Age Isn’t Just Logical—It’s Necessary

Professor Muhammad, MDCAN’s President, made a compelling case: increase the retirement age for consultants from 60 to 70 years. It’s not just about keeping people at work longer—it’s about keeping experience, mentorship, and medical training alive in a country that desperately needs more doctors, not fewer.

Consultants are the bedrock of both medical service and education. Without them, we can’t train residents. Without residents, we have no pipeline of future consultants. It’s a chain reaction we simply cannot afford to trigger.

This Isn’t Just a Health Crisis—It’s a National Security Issue

Let’s be clear: a country that cannot care for its sick is a country on life support. If this were happening in any other sector—say the military or aviation—the government would be in emergency mode. But somehow, the silent collapse of the healthcare system doesn’t generate the same alarm. And that is a tragedy.

Worse still, young medical students are watching this slow-motion collapse and opting out before they even begin. They see their lecturers underpaid, overworked, and disrespected. They see a future of hardship and uncertainty—and they choose to leave. Can you blame them?

If We Want Doctors to Stay, We Have to Pay

Let’s stop pretending that patriotism will fill empty operating rooms or staff teaching hospitals. As Professor Muhammad bluntly put it, “The government must improve the income for healthcare workers to retain them.” With the naira plummeting and inflation rising, it’s time for the government to stop making excuses and start making investments.

Yes, increasing the retirement age is a smart move. But it must come with a package of reforms: competitive salaries, modern facilities, and clear pathways for career growth. Without those, we’re just delaying the inevitable.

Final Word: We’re Running Out of Time

This isn’t a future problem—it’s a now problem. The number of consultants is dwindling. The morale among healthcare workers is dangerously low. The exodus will continue unless Nigeria takes deliberate, bold, and urgent action.

We can either invest in our healthcare professionals—or prepare for a future where the sick have nowhere to turn and the system completely collapses. There’s no middle ground.

The question is: will the government listen before it’s too late?

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