From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has urged the House of Representatives to expedite the passage of the bill seeking to increase the retirement age for health workers from 60 to 65 years and the length of service from 35 to 40 years.
The NMA’s First Vice President, Benjamin Olowojebutu, made the call during a courtesy visit to the member representing Agege Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Wale Ahmed. Olowojebutu stated that the bill, if passed into law, would help to address brain drain in the health sector.
The House recently passed for a second reading a bill sponsored by Ahmed to extend the length of service for health workers from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years, whichever comes first.
The NMA Vice President, who noted that the visit was to thank Ahmed for sponsoring the bill, explained that when experienced health workers retire, there are often not enough young, experienced workers to replace them.
He said: “We are here to say a big thank you to our colleague and a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Doctor Wale Ahmed, for championing this important bill in the quest for healthcare delivery in this country. This is a way to reverse medical japa and medical retirement.
“One of the things we realise is that a lot of our doctors have experiences, and when they exit after retirement, those that replace them are younger colleagues who still need experience.
“So, one of the things to do is to increase their age so that there are more experienced doctors for younger doctors to learn from before they retire.”
Olowojebutu noted that the bill “will increase the capacity for training. It will improve the experience of our younger colleagues going forward. We want to appeal to the leadership of the House to look at this bill as a comprehensive one that will aid healthcare delivery in this country, support the livelihood of medical doctors who have served this country for a long time, and reflect the passion we have put into this country.”