By Haruna Gimba
The Coordinator of the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) Dr Aminu Magashi Garba, has lauded the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) innovation, brevity and courage for their resolve to launch the Doctors for Humanity Initiatives, through the ‘Doctors Medical Aid Foundation.’
This was contained in a communique signed by the NMA President Professor Bala Muhammad Audi and Secretary General, Dr Benjamin Egbo, at the end of the association’s 2025 Annual Delegates Conference and General Meeting held in Katsina State.
The communique published on pages 14 and 21 of Daily Trust and The Guardian Newspapers respectively, stated that the NMA has resolved to launch the Doctors for Humanity Initiatives, a strategic platform for collaborating with reputable humanitarian organisations.
Dr Magashi, who is also Chairman of the NMA National Committee on Health Policy and Planning, stated that the launching of the ‘Doctors Medical Aid Foundation,’ will formalise and expanded the NMA’s humanitarian efforts in reaching Nigeria’s most vulnerable population
The communique added that the ADM has firmly rejected the implementation of the Consultant Pharmacist cadre within the hospital settings, and called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to immediately halt the initiative in the interest of patients’ safety, professionalism, and patient centred care.
Delegates at the ADM also resolved to adopt one orphanage home in each state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with a commitment to supporting the health, education, and nutritional needs of orphans as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
At the Delegate Conference, the NMA has called for the harmonisation of the salary structure of medical doctors across Nigeria to promote equity and even distribution of doctors across the country.
Prof. Audu added that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the association has observed with concern the lack of universal applicability of the implementation of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and its consequential adjustment for doctors across the country.
He said the association frowned at the non-universal applicability, because it violates the principle of equity that allows even distribution of doctors across the country.
“The Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM) also observed the delay in the payment of the outstanding arrears of the consequential adjustment of CONMESS to doctors working in Federal Teaching Hospitals, and notes that the delay in payment is causing increasing agitation amongst members nationwide.
“The NEC resolved its commitment to ensuring that the universal applicability of CONMESS to all cadres of doctors working across all sectors in Nigeria is implemented across board and will continue to advocate and lobby all relevant stakeholders to ensure it is done,” part of the communique read.
He further emphasised that NMA remains committed to ensuring that quality of care is improved across all the health systems and that the health system continues to improve remarkably to ensure quality healthcare services to the Nigerian populace.
Health Reporters Newspaper reports that the theme of the Conference was “The Universal Applicability of Care Standards for Patients and the Wellbeing of Healthcare Providers.”
