Subsidy

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has condemned the federal government’s failure to implement the approved 50 percent electricity subsidy for public hospitals, warning that the development is placing an additional burden on already overstretched health facilities serving indigent patients.

The association made its position known in a communique issued in Jos at the end of its National Executive Council meeting held in Katsina. MDCAN noted that despite the Federal Executive Council’s earlier approval of the subsidy, there has been no evidence of its implementation in hospitals across the country.

Signed by MDCAN President, Prof. Mohammad Aminu, and Secretary-General, Prof. Daiyabu Alhaji, the communique described the non-implementation as detrimental to healthcare delivery and called on the federal government to fulfill its promise without further delay.

The association also called for the immediate reversal of the consultant pharmacy cadre policy, arguing that its continued implementation could disrupt the orderliness of patient care and potentially lead to avoidable crises within the healthcare system.

On the issue of manpower development, MDCAN emphasized the importance of improved welfare packages to encourage medical doctors to take up academic roles in medical schools. This, it said, would support the federal government’s policy of doubling medical school enrolment and enhancing postgraduate training in teaching hospitals.

The association further urged the government to implement the Memorandum of Understanding addressing the demand for the universal applicability of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) across all government establishments. It also expressed concern over the persistent pay disparity between doctors working in federal institutions and those in state-owned hospitals. MDCAN pledged to continue engaging the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and individual state governors to address this issue and reduce the internal migration of doctors from state to federal health institutions.

Rising inflation and its impact on healthcare were also highlighted, with the association noting that the increasing cost of goods and services is further limiting access to medical care. MDCAN urged the government to consider reducing pump prices of petroleum products as a means of alleviating economic pressure on the population.

Finally, the association reiterated that the Fellowship of Medical Postgraduate Colleges remains the highest academic and professional qualification required for the training of doctors and for career progression at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.