President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.
The National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Mannir Bature, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.
Bature noted that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has been given the directive to formally present the approval to the Council on Establishment through the Office of the Head of Service for finalisation.
He stated that Pate relayed the policy thrust shift during a high-level meeting with the NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, and key stakeholders in the health sector.
According to him the meeting was attended by the leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Health Sector Unions.
He said talks focused on progress made in respect of the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria.
He also said that the coordinating minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure are set for payment.
“The necessary funds have been secured, and disbursement to beneficiaries will commence soon,” he said.
Bature stated that the minister had confirmed that President Tinubu had also given approval for the correction of consequential adjustments for both CONMESS and the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, arising from the implementation of the new minimum wage.
“The process to effect this correction is at an advanced stage, providing much-needed relief to doctors and other healthcare workers,” he said.
“This will particularly benefit members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN), ensuring better financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services nationwide,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NMA has championed increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer and for quality healthcare delivery.
NAN reports that various health associations or unions had declared nationwide strikes over the non-implementation of CONMESS and CONHESS for doctors and healthcare workers.
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