Experts divided over Tinubu’s decision to extend doctors’ retirement age to 65

Health experts and industry stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions to President Bola Tinubu’s approval of an extension in the retirement age for medical professionals, a move aimed at curbing the mass exodus of doctors from Nigeria.

While some see it as a strategy to mitigate brain drain and enhance knowledge transfer, others argue it may limit opportunities for younger doctors and fail to address deeper systemic challenges in the healthcare sector.

Nigeria has experienced a significant outflow of medical personnel in recent years.

According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, over 16,000 doctors have left Nigeria in the past five years, seeking better pay and working conditions in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Despite Nigeria having approximately 300,000 healthcare professionals across various cadres, only 55,000 licensed doctors are actively practicing.

The country has around 85,000 to 90,000 registered doctors, but a large percentage have relocated abroad, causing a critical shortage in the healthcare workforce.

To combat this, President Tinubu, on February 5, approved an increase in the retirement age for medical doctors and healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years. Additionally, consultants and professors will now retire at 70 instead of 65.

This policy aligns with global best practices and is intended to stabilize the healthcare workforce, ensuring experienced professionals remain in service longer.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) have largely welcomed the decision.

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Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu, First Vice President of the NMA, emphasized the importance of retaining experienced professionals.

“This move is critical in addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals and ensuring that experienced doctors and other medical workers remain in the system,” he said.

He further stated that the extension would boost doctors’ morale, enhance training capacity, and improve the learning experience of younger healthcare professionals.

“It will help ensure that healthcare workers remain in service longer, passing on their knowledge and stabilizing the workforce,” he added.

The MDCAN also warned of an impending shortage of healthcare consultants, revealing that 1,700 consultants aged 55 and above are set to retire within the next five years. They believe the extension will help manage this crisis.

However, some experts and stakeholders argue that the measure is merely a temporary solution that fails to address the root causes of brain drain, such as poor working conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and low remuneration.

Dr. Laz Eze, a public health consultant and founder of TalkHealth9ja, questioned the effectiveness of increasing the retirement age. “While it may retain health workers a little longer, perhaps for an additional five years, the question remains: will this significantly improve productivity?”

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He pointed out that many senior medical professionals in their 60s hold administrative roles rather than practicing medicine.

“Even for those not in administrative positions, they are often called upon only when their expertise is specifically needed. Could we achieve the same results without increasing the retirement age? What analysis was done to support this decision?” he asked.

Dr. Eze also argued that extending the retirement age does not directly address the reasons why doctors are leaving Nigeria.

“The retirement age of 60 years is not the reason doctors are leaving. If Nigeria is serious about addressing brain drain, it must tackle the fundamental issues driving health workers away,” he asserted.

Similarly, Dr. Larne Yusuf, a general practitioner, warned that retaining older professionals could limit job opportunities for younger medical graduates. “If we keep extending service years, younger doctors may struggle to secure positions in government hospitals. This could discourage new entrants into the profession or push them to seek employment overseas,” he cautioned.

Given the mixed reactions, experts emphasize that any decision on extending service years must be accompanied by broader reforms.

Some suggest implementing a flexible system that allows voluntary extension with competency assessments, transitioning older doctors into mentorship roles, conducting regular health evaluations, and improving working conditions to enhance retention rather than merely extending service years.