After we successfully called on the Federal Government and the Federal Ministry of Education to reconsider the increase in WAEC and NECO examination fees, another concerning issue has emerged.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has introduced a sudden increase in the registration fee for foreign-trained medical graduates.
Foreign-trained doctors in Nigeria are now facing an unexpected financial burden just weeks before their induction.
On Friday, the MDCN informed successful foreign-trained medical graduates via email that the registration fee would be โฆ250,000, plus โฆ15,000 for insurance, bringing the total to โฆ265,000.
However, on the 13th, another email was sent asking recipients to disregard the previous one. The registration fee had been increased to โฆ400,000, with โฆ15,000 for insurance, making the new total โฆ415,000โa โฆ150,000 increase announced less than two weeks before induction.
This is the reality currently facing foreign-trained medical graduates in Nigeria.
Where does the MDCN expect these 238 newly qualified doctors to find โฆ415,000 within such a short period just to obtain their practising licences?
I am calling on the Federal Ministry of Health, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently reconsider this decision.
This policy will not strengthen Nigeriaโs healthcare system. Nigeria is already experiencing a severe shortage of medical doctors, with fewer than 55,000 doctors serving a population of over 220 million people.
The government should consider subsidising this registration fee instead of placing an additional financial burden on young doctors who are ready to serve the nation.
@Fmohnigeria@MDCNOfficial@NigeriaGov