MCPDP Fee Increase Sparks Concerns Over Rising Cost of Professional Licence Renewal for Nurses
Nigerian nurses are facing a fresh financial burden following an increase in the fee for the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP), with the charge reportedly rising from ₦20,000 to ₦40,000.
The development has sparked concerns among nurses and health-sector stakeholders, with an activist condemning the new charge and questioning the rationale behind imposing additional financial pressure on healthcare professionals.
The MCPDP is a mandatory professional development requirement for nurses and midwives under the regulation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). The programme is designed to ensure that practising nurses and midwives regularly update their professional knowledge and skills.
The reported doubling of the MCPDP fee means nurses seeking to fulfil their continuing professional development requirements will now have to pay significantly more for the mandatory programme.
The increase comes amid broader concerns over the rising cost of living and the financial challenges confronting healthcare workers across the country.
Critics argue that professional development requirements should remain accessible to nurses, particularly given their critical role in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Reacting to the development, an activist condemned the new charges, describing the increase as an additional burden on nurses who are already grappling with difficult economic conditions.
The activist called for greater transparency and accountability regarding the new fee and urged the relevant authorities to reconsider the increase in the interest of healthcare professionals and the wider health system.
The MCPDP requirement forms part of the regulatory framework governing the continued professional practice of nurses and midwives in Nigeria.
With the fee now reportedly standing at ₦40,000, affected nurses may have to commit considerably more resources towards meeting their professional development obligations and maintaining their eligibility to practise.
The development is expected to generate further discussion among nurses, professional associations and regulatory authorities as stakeholders seek clarity on the justification for the increase.
The increase has therefore placed renewed focus on the cost of professional regulation in Nigeria and the need to balance regulatory requirements with the economic realities facing healthcare workers.
