Abiodun Nejo
The Nigerian Medical Association, Ekiti State Branch, has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the health sector with a view to addressing its myriads of problems and making it attractive to professionals.
The body called for the allocation of at least 15 per cent of the national budget to health as stipulated in the Abuja Declaration, adding that such “will be an initial step to show commitment towards the growth of the health sector on the part of the government”.
These were contained in the communiqué issued at the end of the 26th Annual General Meeting of NMA, which was themed, “Medical legislation: The need for inclusiveness in achieving stability in the Health industry”, made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
In the communique signed by NMA State Chairman, Dr. Babatunde Rosiji, and Secretary, Dr. Moses Dada, the doctors charged President Bola Tinubu not to hesitate to take tough decisions to help jumpstart the country’s ailing health sector.
“The government is urged to declare a state of emergency on health and do the needful by providing a conducive environment which is good enough for our health professionals and to retain them in the country.
“If nothing deliberate is done to rescue the health sector, native doctors will soon start running our hospitals. The neglect of the health sector is already leading to the proliferation of quacks, who are now brazenly parading themselves as doctors and even conducting graduations to induct their apprentices to the medical professions,” the communique stated.
The doctors called on the FG to urgently address the rising cost of drugs and medical consumables “to prevent the cost of health services from becoming so prohibitive to the point of driving patients away from our hospitals.
“All efforts must be made to ensure universal coverage of citizens under the National Health Insurance Act. Efforts must also be made by the NHIA to review the drug tariff currently being operated to reflect current economic realities”.
The NMA, while lauding Ekiti State Government for rolling out palliatives that cut across all strata, called on other state governors “to emulate the governor of Ekiti State by providing well thought out palliatives to the masses”.
“The approval by Governor Oyebanji of pay parity for clinical workers at the Hospitals’ Management Board will now help in attracting fresh hands to the HMB and this will better position the HMB for better service delivery.
“The AGM expressed confidence that the consequential adjustment of minimum wage and pay parity will equally be extended to our colleagues in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and Primary Health Care Development Agency,” the doctors said.
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