The Nigerian Medical Association has described as “pathetic” the diagnostic recommendations made by the United States medical doctors for the late former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili.
The NMA also bemoaned the lack of trust for medical doctors in the country by Nigerians, warning that time had come for confidence to be restored in the services rendered by medical doctors in the country in order to stem the tide of Nigerians dying abroad.
The NMA president, Dr. Kayode Obeme, at a press briefing on Thursday evening in Abuja, also said doctors would embark on indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to adhere to previous agreements reached with the association.
Obeme gave the government 14 days to meet the demands of the NMA or risk grounding of medical services across the country.
Obembe said, “It is very pathetic; diagnosis was carried out on Prof. Akunyili in Nigeria but like everything in Nigeria, they said ‘go and confirm in the US or UK’. There, they said there was nothing wrong with her, but now it is a different story.
“That is why we have been advocating that every Nigerian should have a medical doctor through health insurance and community health coverage, we can prevent such cases from happening.”
In a letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, the NMA listed key areas the government must address to avert doctors’ strike.
Obembe said, “The NMA is opposed to the appointments of directors in the hospitals. This position distorts the chain of command in the hospital, induces anarchy and exposes the patient to conflicting treatment and management directives with attendant negative consequences.
“Grade level 12 (CONMESS 2) in the health sector must be skipped for medical doctors; hazard allowance must be at least N100, 000 per month for medical doctors and immediate withdrawal of the Central Bank of Nigeria circular authorising the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria to approve licenses for the importation of In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs).
“In the light of the fore-going therefore, the NMA hereby gives government 14 days to meet all her demands as stated above or have her members called out for a resumption of the total and indefinite withdrawal of service suspended on January 5, 2014. The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted by government.”
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