At the height of the last ministerial nomination and screening, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) had taken a parochial and insulting position that one of its own must be appointed at the helm of the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) because according to it, this was a global practice. The NMA went further to threaten the then Acting President that it would ground the health sector if its position was not adhered to. This arrogant stance has polarized the health sector which has culminated in the formation of the Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations and Unions and the setting up of this committee.

Section 147(1) & (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear as to how Ministers are appointed. Section 42 (1) a & b also compels a right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of Community, Ethnic Group, Place of Origin, Sex, Religion, Political Opinion etc.

It is important to state that the headship of the Health Sector is not vested in medical doctors contrary to the claims of the NMA.

The Situation in other Countries

In the United States of America (USA), Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services (equivalent to our own Minister of Health) on April 28th, 2009. She is a former Governor of Kansas State, holds a Bachelor Decree of Arts and Masters in Public Administration. Donna Shalala and Tommy Thompson were health ministers in Bill Clinton’s and G.W. Bush’s administrations respectively. They are neither medical doctors nor healthcare professionals.

In the United Kingdom (U.K), the immediate past Secretary of Health was Rt. Honourable Andy Burnham who holds a Master of Arts (MA) Decree in English Language.

In Japan Akira Nagatsuma who was appointed in 2009 as Minister of Health, is not a Medical Doctor. In India the Minister of Health, Mr. Ghulan Azad is not a medical doctor, he holds a M.Sc. Decree in Zoology.

These are countries Nigerians are travelling to, in large numbers, for medical attention while the Nigerian healthcare service has been ranked 192 out of 198 countries by the World Health Organization under the leadership of Medical doctors.

In Africa, Botswana has been rated by the World Health Organization as having the best national healthcare service. The current Minister of Health in Botswana is an Accountant, and he took over from Mrs. Motsumi, a Nurse, who was Health Minister from 2003-2009. Earlier on, Mrs. Phumaphi, a Nurse, was the Minister of Health from 1989-2002. It is noteworthy that since her independence in 1966, no medical doctor has been appointed Health Minister in Botswana.

In Nigeria, the tenure of many non-Medical Doctors at the helm of Federal Ministry of Health witnessed stability and harmony as epitomized by the leadership of late Aminu Kano, Admiral Patrick Koshoni, Admiral Jubril Ayinla, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Prof A. B. C. Nwosu and lately Prof Eyitayo Lambo. Perhaps it is appropriate to also remind this committee that Doctors have, at different times, led other Ministries that are not related to Health. Prof. Jubril Aminu was at different times Education and Petroleum Minister only recently incumbent Ondo State, Governor Dr. Segun Mimiko was Housing Minister in the Obasanjo Government. In these capacities these eminent Doctors enjoyed the support of other core professionals in these different non-health Ministries.

In the immediate past dispensation, the two Ministers in charge of the Federal Ministry of Health were medical doctors in a multidisciplinary set up such as Health, the first in the History of this Nation and yet there was no threat from the other stakeholders in the Health Sector.

The general perception on why doctors want to continue to be Minister of Health is to maintain the hegemony of an unjust entry level in the civil service and discriminatory salary scales which they always get when doctors are Ministers of Health

k,nurse!!!

propaganda to blackmail the doctors. former ministers of health in obj administation prof abc nwosu and pro lambo are medical lab scientist and health econimist respectively. ministerial appointment is political. stop blackmailing.

Laalamed: propaganda to blackmail the doctors. former ministers of health in obj administation prof abc nwosu and pro lambo are medical lab scientist and health econimist respectively. ministerial appointment is political. stop blackmailing.

dnt mind d nurse na black belle dey worry am

^^obsession with nurses.;so unhealthy.
Meanwhile, somebody asked a question for us to help him identified a fungi or something on this section.
Go over there and help the poor guy out or stop these bickering.

Joanna Sedley: ^^obsession with nurses.;so unhealthy.
Meanwhile, somebody asked a question for us to help him identified a fungi or something on this section.
Go over there and help the poor guy out or stop these bickering.

A prophet has no value at home.

Nigerians want the best service, but will not allow you to do your job nor will they pay for good service. They will claim that they know better than people who were trained for the job. They will scream bloody murder if Docs try to ask for their rights.

No be you dey pay for d doki BBS or dem ISP fees!!!

Too many Naija docs have already left and will continue to relocate to where they are better appreciated!!!

There will always be disharmony among health workers the world over. Google and see.
For you to be relevant in todays setting at all, you should up your A game.

wheather you like it or not,ministerial appointment is not the birthright of a doctor,The NMA has constituted itsekf into a cult that sucks the blood of other professionals,nurses do almost all d job in the ward and doctors take the glory and pay,pharmacist produce,package and provide all necessary infos on drug and doctors will be the ones to prescribe it..what a shame
and let me remind doctors,ur pry ass is to diagnose,face it and stop trying to run ur profession and run others too..anyway sha ur days as head of health care are numbered

on a good day:
wheather you like it or not,ministerial appointment is not the birthright of a doctor,The NMA has constituted itsekf into a cult that sucks the blood of other professionals,nurses do almost all d job in the ward and doctors take the glory and pay,pharmacist produce,package and provide all necessary infos on drug and doctors will be the ones to prescribe it..what a shame
and let me remind doctors,ur pry ass is to diagnose,face it and stop trying to run ur profession and run others too..anyway sha ur days as head of health care are numbered

envy wl kill u, stop dreamnn...

dmalam:
envy wl kill u, stop dreamnn...

envy begates motivation and dreamers rule the world.....however vampires, and blood suckers like you who parasite on other profession to grow yours and when they they complain you call it envy will surely perish in hell hoha!!!!

on a good day:


envy begates motivation and dreamers rule the world.....however vampires, and blood suckers like you who parasite on other profession to grow yours and when they they complain you call it envy will surely perish in hell hoha!!!!

tell me a country where doctors diagnose and pharmacists prescribe drugs. show relevant link. worldwide doctors diagnose and prescribe drugs. pharmacists are dispensers of drugs while nurses administer drugs. it is only in hospice that clinical pharmacists involve in patients care. pharmacists birthright is pharmaceutical industries. just appreciate what you are. do not try to be a doctor.

[quote
author=thepathologist]

tell me a country where doctors diagnose and pharmacists prescribe
drugs. show relevant link. worldwide doctors diagnose and prescribe
drugs. pharmacists are dispensers of drugs while nurses administer
drugs. it is only in hospice that clinical pharmacists involve in
patients care. pharmacists birthright is pharmaceutical industries. just
appreciate what you are. do not try to be a doctor.[/quote]

Ur ignorance must be killing you already.. I feel for you already.. Go read about pharmaceutical care, PharmD program didn't come to play just for us to dispense.. Leave here pls..

adeola_drg:

Ur ignorance must be killing you already.. I feel for you already.. Go read about pharmaceutical care, PharmD program didn't come to play just for us to dispense.. Leave here pls..

leave him, let him keep barking like a wounded dog; its so obvious, his ignorance cannot be quantified.

[quote author=dmalam]
dnt mind d nurse na black belle dey worry am[/quote






Truth be told for once.