Under the direction of the Nigeria Medical Association, doctors have requested the Federal Government to declare a health emergency in order to solve the sector\’s issues and make it more appealing to professionals.
According to the Abuja Declaration, the NMA Ekiti State Branch also demanded that at least 15% of the national budget be set aside for health. This, it said, \”will be an initial step to show commitment to the growth of the health sector on the part of all tiers of government.\”
These were included in the communique that was released in Ado Ekiti on Sunday following the 26th Annual General Meeting of NMA Ekiti, which had as its theme \”Medical legislation: The need for inclusiveness in achieving stability in the Health industry.\”
President Bola Tinubu was tasked by the doctors to \”jumpstart our ailing health sector\” by signing a communique with the NMA State Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Babatunde Rosiji and Dr. Moses Dada.
The government is asked to declare a health emergency and take action by creating a welcoming climate that is sufficient to win over and keep our health professionals in the nation, according to their statement.
If serious action is not taken to save the healthcare industry, soon our hospitals will be administered by local physicians. The health sector is already being neglected, which is resulting in an increase in quacks who are shamelessly disguising themselves as doctors and even holding graduations to welcome their apprentices into the \”medical professions.\”
The AGM urged the Federal Government to take immediate action to address the rising cost of prescription medications and other medical supplies in order to \”avoid the cost of health services becoming so prohibitive as to drive patients away from our hospitals.\”
“The National Health Insurance Act requires that all citizens have access to coverage. Additionally, the NHIA needs to work on updating its drug tariff to take into account the current state of the economy.
The NMA encouraged other state governors to \”emulate the governor of Ekiti State by providing well thought out palliatives to the masses\” in addition to praising the Ekiti State Government for implementing palliatives that cut across all socioeconomic strata.
The Hospitals\’ Management Board\’s approval by Governor Oyebanji of pay parity for clinical employees would now help in luring new hires to the HMB and this will better position the HMB for enhanced service delivery, according to the NMA.
“The AGM expressed confidence that our colleagues at the Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital will also receive the necessary adjustments to the minimum salary and pay equity, according to the doctors.
