Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has warned the Joint Health Sector Unions
(JOHESU) not to allow their planned strike to affect patients at the hospitals.
The new president of the NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe, said this in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the agenda of his administration.
While restating the commitment of NMA to improving the healthcare sector in Nigeria, he said the Joint
Health Sector Unions, JOHESU, who had vowed to proceed on industrial
action soon if government fails to meet its demand must make sure that such strike
must not affect patients at the hospitals.
He also warned the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN,
to withdraw its purported circular on the inclusion of Medical
Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria’s, MLSCN, Registration and Product
Certification as part of criteria for importation of in-vitro
diagnostics, IVDs into Nigeria.
While providing mechanisms for meeting the universal health coverage,
Obembe informed that 98 per cent of the current coverage in the country
was for federal civil servants.
In a model he presented, he called for 25 per cent contribution each from federal, state and local governments, while individual pays the rest.
“What is most disappointing in the scheme is the fact that 98 per cent of the coverage has been only for federal civil servants, the states and local governments have not come on board, and in some instances even constitute impenetrable barrier towards reaching the community.
“Most appalling again is the fact that 80 per cent of disease burden can be managed in properly organised community health insurance programme, 15 per cent at secondary level and only 5 per cent should actually navigate to tertiary level, but the reverse is the case; teaching hospitals are inundated with catarrh, malaria, diarrhoea etc.
“Artificial barriers and imaginary concepts are always devised to forestall necessary access to adequate healthcare at community level and so our health indices remain dastardly macabre,” he added.
In a model he presented, he called for 25 per cent contribution each from federal, state and local governments, while individual pays the rest.
“What is most disappointing in the scheme is the fact that 98 per cent of the coverage has been only for federal civil servants, the states and local governments have not come on board, and in some instances even constitute impenetrable barrier towards reaching the community.
“Most appalling again is the fact that 80 per cent of disease burden can be managed in properly organised community health insurance programme, 15 per cent at secondary level and only 5 per cent should actually navigate to tertiary level, but the reverse is the case; teaching hospitals are inundated with catarrh, malaria, diarrhoea etc.
“Artificial barriers and imaginary concepts are always devised to forestall necessary access to adequate healthcare at community level and so our health indices remain dastardly macabre,” he added.
Other issues listed by the association for prompt consideration by
government include: abducted girls in Chibok, Borno state; Surgeon-
General/Minister of Health, diaspora doctors/ medical tourism; national
health bill; residency training programme – overseas attachment.
Others are placement of fresh medical graduates for housemanship; security for doctors – police protection; relativity in health sector; retirement age at 70.
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