The Federal Government of Nigeria has given its approval to engage retired medical providers in non-administrative positions on a contractual basis, according to the coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate. This initiative aims to address the human resource gap in the health sector, particularly resulting from the brain drain of clinical manpower.
During a visit to the National Hospital Abuja, Pate revealed that a recent circular has been issued to enable the re-engagement of medical providers in clinical positions on contract terms, preventing the loss of skilled professionals. This move is expected to alleviate the burden on the remaining health workforce.
Highlighting the importance of human resources in the health sector, Pate emphasized that the quality of care relies heavily on skilled personnel rather than just infrastructure and equipment. He acknowledged the dedication and hard work of health workers across Nigeria, many of whom strive under challenging circumstances to deliver services to the population.
Pate noted that healthcare workers leaving for foreign countries or moving between facilities due to workload issues or other circumstances has contributed to the shortage of healthcare professionals. In response, the government plans to expedite the replacement process and ensure that the leadership of hospitals can promptly replace departed clinical providers with equally qualified healthcare personnel.
The minister expressed the government’s commitment to retain healthcare professionals willing to return to service. However, he acknowledged the complexity of the replacement issue, as past experiences involved employing non-health professionals in clinical roles due to pressure and employment situations. The government aims to address this challenge and employ the right professionals while avoiding misuse of opportunities.
The circular, dated August 30, was issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. It rejected the proposed increase in retirement age for healthcare professionals and medical consultants, stating that healthcare workers leaving the country is primarily due to financial considerations and unfavorable working conditions, not retirement age. The circular granted approval for the appointment of clinical health workers on contract, allowing them to be re-hired on the same Salary Grade Level they retired on, if desired and deserved.
The engagement of retired medical practitioners is expected to help bridge the human resource gap in Nigeria’s health sector and enhance the delivery of quality healthcare services.
