A Nigerian governor who is reportedly the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has proposed a new law to raise the retirement age for medical doctors from 65 to 70.
This is aimed at keeping experienced doctors in the state and reducing the number of healthcare professionals leaving for better opportunities elsewhere.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Cyril Oshiomhole, made this known during a free medical outreach event organized by the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC).
The event marked the governor’s first 100 days in office.
According to Oshiomhole, the governor has shown a strong commitment to improving the state’s healthcare system from his first day in office.
In addition to the proposed retirement age increase, the government has taken other steps to strengthen primary healthcare.
These include distributing 18 ultrasound machines to health centres across all 18 local government areas, training healthcare workers on their use, and teaching traditional birth attendants safer delivery methods in rural communities.
Oshiomhole added that while progress has been made, the state government is determined to continue expanding healthcare facilities and working with private and development partners to ensure better medical services for all residents, especially those in rural areas.
The Director General of EDOHIC, Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo, said the outreach event also encouraged more residents to join the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS). She noted that over 400,000 people have already enrolled, with a target to register over two million by the end of the year.
The event was held in partnership with the Edo Specialist Hospital.
