The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, says the federal government has made provisions for retired medical providers in non-administrative positions to be re-engaged on a contractual basis.

While fielding questions from journalists after visiting the National Hospital Abuja (NHA) on Saturday, Mr Pate said this is to close the human resource gap in the health sector due to brain drain.

“The recent circular essentially provided for medical providers who are in non-administrative positions, that is, those who are in clinical positions, to be re-engaged in a contract basis on the same terms as they were so that we do not lose the few that are remaining,” he said.

The minister said the National Hospital Abuja had about 15 anaesthesiologists over the last several years but had six remaining.

Mr Pate said thousands of health workers all over Nigeria work very hard, sometimes under challenging circumstances and need support.

“What we have seen is that in many facilities, health workers are leaving, some to leave to go abroad, some moving from one facility to the other because of issues of either work overload or some other circumstances.

“Now the replacement of those health workers can be expedited, and we will work with other parts of government to ensure that when clinical providers leave their post, the leadership of our hospitals are able to replace them with similarly qualified health providers,” he said.

The minister said the government would do everything possible to retain medical practitioners willing to return to service.

However, Mr Pate said that replacing personnel who had gone is challenging, given that some institutions had misused those opportunities in the past.

“So when they get the waivers to replace or waivers to employ, because of pressure, they employ non-health professionals and leave the clinical professionals, the nurses, pharmacists, doctors, technicians out of the loop.

“Then, because of pressure, they hire others because of the employment situation in the country. So it’s a delicate issue, but we are working towards solving that,” Mr Pate added.

A circular dated August 30 from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) with reference number HCSF/SPSO/ODD/CND/100/S.1/145, was addressed to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health.

The circular was titled: Re: Review of Retirement Age to 65 and 70 years for Health Professionals and Medical/Dental Consultants.

The circular was signed by Olufemi Oloruntoba, the permanent secretary of the Service Policies and Strategies Office, on behalf of the HCSF. It proposed the rejection of the increase in retirement age for medical and dental consultants and other health professionals.

It also cited several reasons for the rejection, which include that healthcare professionals are leaving the country because of financial considerations and unfavourable working conditions not due to their retirement age.

(NAN)