01 Jul 2014 Written by Agency Reporter
Category: Cover
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The Nigerian Medical Association has declared an indefinite nationwide strike billed to commence as from today.
President of the association, Dr. Kayode Obembe, made the statement during a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, adding that the Federal Government has failed to address their demands.
The NMA had sent 24-point demands to the government, including the discontinuation of recognition of non-medical doctors as Directors and Consultant title to any other health worker other than medical doctors.
The demands also include the appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation, payment of clinical duty and hazard allowances and withdrawal of the Central Bank of Nigeria circular on medical laboratory equipment.
Read the NMA's President's statement in part:
“The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted. We have to take this action in order to save the health care delivery system from anarchy that is palpably imminent. We hereby appeal to all Nigerians for their understanding and to press on the government to meet with our demands.”
"The failure of the government to address NMA’s demands has left the association with no other option than to call all its members to down tool in order to press home their demands.”
"There was no way non-doctors could be allowed to function as Consultants, given that they do not oversee patients in the hospital.
“A consultant is the owner of the patient; many health workers now go about acquiring Ph.D so that they can be called Doctors. The title should be restricted to only a medical doctor.”
“Every doctor is a member of the NMA; other affiliates are allowed to operate also. We sought legal advice on the court injunction, our legal opinion is that the court order did not mention any reference to the NMA and since it did not mention NMA, we don’t want to dwell on it.”
“We had a meeting with the Federal Government. We tabled our minimal demands; the government did not agree with NMA, but there is no end point. Some were referred to the court. There was no end point. While this was going on, the government was issuing out circulars favouring other health workers.”
