By Muhammad Amaan
Medica doctors in Nigeria, under the auspices of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike from January 31st, 2024, if the federal government fails to implement the upward review of consolidated medical salary structure and the newly approved allowance.
NMA president, Dr Uche Ojinma, disclosed on Sunday at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NMA, in Abuja.
He said they have given the federal government till 31st of January 2024 to implement the upward review of consolidated medical salary structure and also implement the newly approved allowance with arrears from 1st June 2023 or they cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the health sector.
“These things were approved since July 1st 2023 and as I am talking to you now, they have not been implemented and we don’t have a clear direction on when they will be implemented. So, if by 31st of January 2024, if they do not implement these things, we shall do whatever it takes to protect our members.
“We cannot be talking about brain drain and the little we could do to assuage it we are not doing it. These doctors are here as a great sacrifice. If there is any little thing you could do for them then you should do it quickly and not wait for them to cry.”
He also called for the implementation of the National Health Act of 2014 which was passed and signed since 2014, stating that the Act provided that 1percent from 1st line charge should be set aside partly to fund the basic health care which is called the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
Dr Ojinma said that the basic health care fund is supposed to take care of first 48 to 72 hours of emergency of Nigerians, but it has not been implemented till today.
“We noted the directive emanating from the government for all cases of medical emergencies to be treated by doctors in private and public hospitals. But we have a few questions. Who pays for this emergency?
“Where things are done properly, government should have universal health coverage whereby insurance can take care of it.
“So, if you ask a private practitioner to treat people free, who pays? So, these are issues that should be untangled before we start issuing directives because every private hospital is a business, maybe running on loan. So, let’s stop paying lip service to emergency health care and do the right thing,” he said.
