Doctors want extension of retirement age to 70 years

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) has urged the Federal Government to extend the retirement age of medical practitioners to 70 years to enable them to impact more knowledge on the upcoming doctors.

The body of doctors made the call on Monday in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

NAGGMDP, which also urged the Federal Government to prioritise the health sector, noted that the extension of the retirement age of medical practitioners was to allow them to impact more knowledge to upcoming doctors.

According to the communique jointly signed by the National President, Dr Dokun Noel, and General Secretary, Dr Ekundare Folu, Nigeria is facing an acute shortage of doctors because many have emigrated to Europe, North America and the Middle East.

The communique stressed the need for the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to give the health sector top priority to reduce brain drain.

It reads, “The NEC resolved that the Federal and State Government should provide affordable healthcare for Nigerians while making special considerations for children, the vulnerable and the aged, through a well funded National health insurance scheme  which would reduce out of pocket payments.

The doctors expressed displeasure over noted the increasing insecurity challenges facing the country, especially those targeted at health providers including doctors.

NAGGMDP noted urged the Government to make the work place environment and conditions of service attractive and conducive in order to attract and retain doctors in their employment.