Doctors demand increased govt funding of health sector

 

..Lament brain drain

 

 

By AKOR SYLVESTER-Abuja

 

Nigerian Doctors have called for increased funding of health sector for effective healthcare delivery, as the 2023 appropriate bill is being prepared.

 

The Doctors also lamented exodus movement of their colleagues to foreign countries for better welfare and offer.

 

Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Mafia, Nassarawa state, advocated 15% budgetary allocation in line with the 2001 Abuja declaration for healthcare financing in Africa and global best practices.

 

It said more funding for the sector would give room for effective  health care delivery in the country.

 

The communique signed by the president and made available to news men in Abuja at the weekend, further urged the Federal Government to take steps toward curtailing the

brain drain in the health sector and find ways of eliminating all bureaucratic bottlenecks in the employment and replacement of the Resident Doctors

leaving the nation’s  institutions daily to seek greener pastures.

 

It urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment of the newly reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) within a two weeks ultimatum to enable the members to meet up with the closing

date of examination registration as advertised by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

 

The NEC in the communique demanded the immediate implementation and payment of the new

Hazard Allowance and arrears as contained in the circular from the

National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) dated 22nd December 2021 with reference number SWC/S/04/S.218/11/406 within two weeks.

 

It urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the payment

of the skipping arrears for 2014, 2015 and 2016 to deserving members as the patience of the association is waning concerning this matter.

 

The Doctors demanded immediate payment of consequential adjustment of

minimum wage to their members who have been deprived the benefit since

it was implemented several years ago.

 

They further demanded an immediate review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and other related allowances given the current economic situation in the country, and also in line with the agreed terms from the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that it will be

reviewed regularly.

 

They appreciated the Executive Governor of Nassarawa State, Abdullahi A. Sule for the approval and commencement of

payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) to Resident Doctors

at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia, and his promise to employ

the wife of their deceased member who died of workplace hazard into the State Civil Service as was done to the two spouses of their other colleagues who died from Lassa Fever last year.

 

They then urged the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Victor

Ikpeazu to keep to the latest agreement of paying seven  months’ salary

arrears within one week in the first instance and two  months’ salary

arrears monthly to their members until the arrears are cleared, and also the

full implementation of the 2017 Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in Abia state.

 

The Doctors called on the Federal Government, the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Stakeholders, and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Governors of