Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has introduced a bill to the Edo State House of Assembly aimed at raising the retirement age for medical doctors from 60 to 70 years.
This initiative seeks to address the ongoing brain drain in the healthcare sector and retain experienced professionals.
The announcement was made by Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, the Commissioner for Health, during a free medical outreach event organized by the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDOHIC) to commemorate Okpebholo’s first 100 days in office.
“In collaboration with the Edo State House of Assembly, His Excellency is pushing for a bill to increase the retirement age for doctors to 70 years, ensuring the state retains experienced medical professionals,” Oshiomhole stated, emphasizing the governor’s commitment to transforming the health sector.
Highlighting the administration’s achievements in healthcare, Oshiomhole noted that within the first 100 days, the governor had made significant strides, including the distribution of 18 ultrasound machines to primary healthcare centers to enhance maternal and child health services.
He also mentioned ongoing training programs for healthcare professionals and traditional birth attendants to improve safe delivery practices in rural communities.
“While we celebrate these achievements, we recognize that the journey to a robust healthcare system is ongoing. His Excellency’s administration remains committed to expanding healthcare infrastructure to reach every citizen, especially in rural areas, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector and development partners to enhance service delivery,” he added.
Mrs. Augusta Ikpea-Enaholo, Director General of the EDOHIC, also spoke at the event, highlighting the outreach’s dual purpose of providing medical services and enrolling more residents in the Edo State Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS), which currently serves approximately 400,000 people.
“This is what we do regularly, but today is special because our governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, has completed 100 days in office. We are going the extra mile to intensify our efforts to enroll more people in the scheme so they can benefit from the governor’s health initiatives,” Ikpea-Enaholo said. She expressed the goal of increasing enrollment to over two million by the end of the year.
The outreach event was conducted in collaboration with the Edo Specialist Hospital, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access across the state.
