Over the discontinuation of budgetary allocations to professional bodies and councils in the country, healthcare professionals in the country may face increases in practising licence fees, fees for the letter of good standing, verification fee, registration fee, and licence renewal, among others.
In a letter dated June 26, 2023 and issued to professional bodies and councils, the Federal Government said that funding contributions to professional groups and councils would be discontinued beginning in January 2024.
The letter, DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067, was issued by the Federation’s Budget Office and signed by its Director General, Ben Akabueze.
“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to inform you that, in compliance with PCS’s directive, this office (Budget Office of the Federation) will no longer make budgetary provisions for your institution, which means that you will be regarded henceforth as a self-funded organisation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, you will be required, effective January 1, 2024, to be fully responsible for your personnel, overhead, and capital expenditures,” the letter partly read.
According to professional medical and health associations in the country, the new development will have an impact on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, and the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria, among others.
Dr Emeka Orji, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, stated that the association is already planning an increase in the practising licence fee and other payments of medical health workers given to the MDCN in response to the new policy.
The practising licence fee is calculated depending on the number of years a doctor has been in practice. The MDCN Act, for example, stipulates that “a doctor aged 70 years and above shall pay a practising fee equal to 25% of the fee payable by a doctor with more than 10 years post-qualification experience.”
Orji said, “The truth is that the funds that the MDCN and other regulatory agencies get from the government help them to take care of salaries and other running costs and if the government is totally withdrawing from funding them, they will channel their sources of funding to the people they are meant to be regulating, which will be the professionals, which may not be good.
“We are anticipating that it may lead to an increase in licensing fees and other things, which is not good, considering the prevailing economic conditions.”
Dr Victor Makanjuola, President of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria, agreed with Orji, saying that the absence of government financing for the MDCN “may lead to an increase in fees.”
Meanwhile, the MDCN’s Registrar, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, stated, “We are still waiting for further policy guidelines and directives.”
Toba Odumosu, Secretary of the Lagos State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, also stated that if the government withdraws budgetary allocations to professional organisations and councils, healthcare professionals will face the responsibility.
