Retired Medical Practitioners To Resume Duty Due To Unavailability Of Capable Doctors, Nurses

By: JP Ashedzi

Following massive decline in availability of medical practitioners in the country due to the out flux of doctors and nurses to foreign countries searching for better working conditions, the Federal Government has approved the appointment of retired doctors, nurses, and other clinical healthcare workers on contract, according to a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health.

The circular, dated October 5, 2023, directs the Chief Executive Agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure compliance with the circular earlier issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to all staff in their institutions.

The contract staff will be on the same salary scale level that they retired on if desired and deserved.

In August 2023, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation rejected a request to increase the retirement age of medical doctors and other health professionals from 60 to 70 and 75 years, respectively.

The circular said that the decision was made because professionals in the health sector were leaving the country because of financial considerations and unfavorable conditions of service, and not as a result of retirement age.

It also said that some state governments had already increased the retirement age of medical doctors and other health workers, which had not addressed the spate of brain drain.

The Federal Ministry of Health urged all executives of agencies, Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and Heads of Regulatory Bodies and Schools to ensure strict compliance with the directive from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.