The action of the NMA in causing confusion
in the Nigeria health sector can be likened to
the insurgents and if not checked can go
viral and hydra headed.
It is sad that NMA who called itself elite
Association could be little itself and result to
name calling referring to other members of
the health sector as amorphous, supportive
staff and non- medically qualified.
The same NMA who berated the action of
Joint Health Sector Unions when they
threatened to embark on strike is now
declaring an indefinite strike which I refer to
as senseless and egocentric as a close look
into their demands revealed that none of
those things demanded can add value to
patient’s care rather enhancing their self
earned ego.
It is important that Nigerians are enlightened
to the facts concerning some of the requests
of the Nigeria Medical Association.
1. APPOINTMENTS OF DCMAC: There is no
law in Nigeria that established the position
Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory
Committee in our health sector but NMA
smuggled the position into the
administration of our various hospitals
through the Federal Ministry of health and
exclusively for medical practitioners, a way
to siphon public fund. The law that
established teaching hospitals in Nigeria
referred to as University Teaching Hospitals
(Reconstitution of Boards, Etc.) Act otherwise
known as Decree 10 of 1985 or Act U 15
LFN 2004 section 5 subsection (4) states that
“There shall be for each hospital, a chairman
of the Medical Advisory Committee who shall
be appointed by the Board and responsible
to the Chief Medical Director for all the
clinical and training activities of the
hospital.”
2. APPOINTMENTS OF DIRECTORS IN THE
HOSPITALS: Contrary to the claims of NMA
that 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. They
should be reminded that aside medical
practitioners in the hospitals, there are
several other professionals whose scheme of
service allows them to reach the peak of
their professions which further reiterates the
recognition accorded to the practice of each
profession and informed decision making.
How can the NMA question the statutory
positions of other health professionals that
have been in place since 2001? It is clear
that they are the ones breeding anarchy.
3. DEMAND FOR SKIPPING: When JOHESU
challenged the FMOH circular that ordered
reversal of skipping of grade level 10 in the
health sector, NMA accused JOHESU of
stealing from the Government coffers, a
position that was challenged in court and
won. At the verge of implementation for
other health workers NMA came up asking
for skipping. Who is now a thief?
4. . THE TITLE OF CONSULTANT IN A
HOSPITAL SETTING: The leadership of NMA
should go and check the meaning of a
consultant in a dictionary. This simply means
professional adviser; an expert who charges
fees for providing advice or service in a
particular field. Whereas there are a lot of
specialists setting in the health sector
(Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Medical Laboratory
Science, Pharmacy, Radiography, Optometry
etc) what then give the NMA the temerity to
think they are the only professionals/
specialists in the hospital?
5. RELATIVITY IN HEALTH SECTOR: There used
to be one salary structure in our hospitals
until the regime of late Prof. Olikoye
Ransome Kuti who initiated the gross
disparity in the salary structures in Nigeria
hospital in a bid to favour his constituency
(NMA) with the advent of circular 1 of
1991which has thrown the bane of the
troubles in the health sector till date. An
attempt to amend this anomaly failed due to
the parochial interest of medical
practitioners who wants to go home with
sacks of currency in the name of salary while
what is earned by others is determined by
them making it to look like master- maid
relationship. This is sheer selfishness, as the
well being of a patient does not rest on the
shoulders of the NMA who is still living the
old tale.
6. IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF THE CBN
CIRCULAR AUTHORIZING THE MEDICAL
LABORATORY SCIENCE COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
(MLSCN) TO APPROVE LICENSES FOR THE
IMPORTATION OF IN-VITRO DIAGNOSTICS
(IVDs):
The singular act of NMA on this matter
clearly portrays them as ignorant and
lawless. Section 4 subsection (e) of MLSCN
Act states that the Council shall power to
“regulate the production, importation, sales
and stocking of diagnostic laboratory
reagents and chemicals; When did NMA
become sensor board? NMA is busy chasing
shadows by not wanting to obey the law of
the land. What a shame.
7. RESIDENCY TRAINING: NMA enjoys full
residency training at the expense of all
Nigeria scholars as they are the only set of
people that Government trains at the post
graduate level. I don’t even know if Nigerian
youth enjoys this Father Christmas venture
from the Federal Government at post
graduate levels and yet they are asking for a
review to travel abroad for training at whose
expense? NMA keeps talking about
international best practices. Is this what
happens outside the shores of Nigeria where
people pay for trainings? Another way of
licking the honey. Alas the funding of this
training is taking a chunk of resources from
the sector, no wonder other health workers
cannot be trained or sponsored to workshops
8. THE ORCHESTRATED INTIMIDATION,
HARASSMENT AND PHYSICAL ASSAULT BY
LABORATORY SCIENTISTS: Members of NMA
in this department has chosen to
continuously disregard government rules,
regulations in the Federal Medical Centers,
Specialist and Teaching Hospitals. The
statutory scheme of service for medical
laboratory scientists clearly provides for the
functions of the Director, Medical laboratory
services; namely: “Taking charge of General
Administration of medical laboratory
services; Budgeting and ordering for
laboratory equipment and reagents; Advising
on the formulation, execution and review of
medical laboratory policies” among others.
This dates back to 1972. Organograms are
being designed with complete disregard to
structure of professional services as designed
by schemes of service; harassment of
hardworking professionals; threats of “sack”
by Medical Directors, Chief Medical Directors
and even Boards of Management. Why won’t
there be anarchy when this set of people
(NMA) perpetrates organized quackery in the
laboratories.
9. THE POSITION OF CHIEF MEDICAL
DIRECTOR/MEDICAL DIRECTOR: It is laughable
to hear NMA say that the position is
sacrosanct. One wonders if medical
practitioners think they are the only one that
is medically qualified in the health sector.
They have deceived Nigerians to believe that
the position of the Chief executive in our
hospitals, Commissioners and Health Minister
positions respectively is their exclusive
rights. Section 5 subsection 2 of the law that
established teaching hospitals in Nigeria
states that
“The Chief Medical Director shall -
(a) be a person who is medically qualified
and registered as such for a period of
not less than twelve years, and has had
considerable administrative experience
in matters of health and holds a post -
graduate medical qualification obtained
not less than five years prior to the
appointment as Chief Medical Director; and
(b) be charged with the responsibility for the
execution of the policies and matters
affecting the day - to - day management of
the affairs of the Hospital.”
Where then in this act was the position
reserved for these sets of power mongers?
Having let the cat out of the bag, is it not
clear that the requests of the so called NMA
is self driven? What manner of ego is it that
a group of employed workers by the
government will tell the government how to
relate with other employed medical workers?
It is the same Obembe led NMA that
demanded Nigeria should give all physicians’
special cars with special plate number for
whatever reasons. Soon they will be telling
all Nigerians to leave the roads for them
when they pass in a supposed hurry to attend
to emergency. Soon they will tell us to create
a special road for them to drive on with
siren. Has NMA no shame that it will attempt
to practice world standard but wants to turn
the rule upside down when it does not favor
them? Also in one of their request, NMA
members must be paid a minimum sum of
N100, 000 as hazard allowance a month.
What then makes them feel that they are
exposed more than Nurses who stays with
the patients 24hrs or Medical Laboratory
Scientists who does the dirty job or even an
ambulance driver?
Over pampering of these elements for long
has made them look directly at us in the face
to call Nigerians fools.
Physicians in Nigeria throw in stethoscope
and abandon their duty post at the slightest
opportunity to jeopardize the health of
Nigerian citizens. They should be told that
they don’t have this opportunity to do so as
they are never a registered Trade Union that
is regulated by law. No wonder why they are
lawless. Resident doctors are group of
students who are training to specialize. How
then is the system so bad that a group of
student will be allowed to hold a nation to
ransom without caution? This is how
insurgency started in the North eastern part
of Nigeria, can we manage another
insurgency in the health sector in the name
of NMA or are we trying to create another
sambisa forest in the guise of coerced
request? Of course NO.
I was greeted by news of an industrial action
of NMA on 1st july 2014 after an injunction
of the National Industrial Court which they
dragged the Federal Government and its
agencies warning them not to go on strike as
the matters are before the court. Is this not
the height of lawlessness in an attempt to
pervert justice?
Prof. Shettima Gyoh, a renowned Surgeon
and an esteemed member of NMA in a write
up published by African Health Magazine,
September 2013 Vol.35 No 6 pg 2 titled
Disharmony in the Nigerian Health Sector
advised “the doctors and dentists to soften
their insistence that only they can head
health administration institutions which
arose from the arbitrary selection that
started during the era of Military rule.
Military Government had only doctors in
mind when it came to appointing Heads of
Health administration without considering
the ability to manage. This practice has
continued as Civilian Governments have
tended to imitate their Military predecessors.
Doctors often claim that only they have the
comprehensive picture of the health needs of
society because of their education and
training. They should realize that after many
years of experience other health worker can
and also do have that same picture equally
comprehensively. They should realize that
neither stethoscope nor dental drill is
required in administering health”.
It is obvious that the clamour for health
administration by NMA is not based on the
wish to serve people better but to corner
public funds and the dictate for pecking
order.
He also asserted that we like quoting
developed countries and we know that the
British even appointed non-health
professionals as hospital administrators.
In the 1960s and ‘70s when professional
health service Administrators were in charge
of the management and administration of
hospitals, the Nigerian health sector ranked
4th in the Commonwealth. In 2006 the
Nigerian health sector was ranked 196th out
of 201 countries by the WHO. In 2011, the
Nigerian health sector was ranked 51 out of
53 countries in Africa by the Mo Ibrahim
African Governance Index Rating. Since 1985
medical practitioners through decree 10 took
over the management and administration of
the sector, it has been a sad story of
continuous decline and persistent crisis in
the health sector. It is a fact that the NMA
and its affiliate bodies are known more for
strike and clamour for salaries and
allowances in Nigeria. Suddenly, it now
knows the prescription for reducing tension
and crises in the health sector.
Alas! What we see in Nigeria today is an
orchestrated campaign to mislead the
government again by the Nigerian Medical
Association: “The NMA believes that the
tension and crises in the health sector will be
greatly reduced if certain services are
privatized through the Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) arrangement. Such services
that can be easily privatized include:
Laboratory Services, Pharmacy, Radiography,
Physiotherapy, Catering and
Laundry” (Vanguard 28/9/2012);
Similarly, the Association of Chief Executives
of Federal Tertiary Hospitals: “Meanwhile, all
Federal Tertiary Hospitals are to submit
accurate estimates of their financial
requirements for outsourced services to the
Hon. Minister of Health through the
Director, Hospital Services, within two weeks
to facilitate the meeting with the Hon.
Minister of Finance and Director-General,
Budget Office of the Federation on the
provision of funding for outsourced
services” (The Guardian 16/7/2012). Through
newspaper advertorials and concerted effort
in hospitals, they are working to jettison the
National Medical Laboratory Services Policy
through the privatization of core services in
the hospitals.
Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, a public health
specialist and medical Director of St. Paul’s
Hospital & Maternity Centre, Ebute Meta,
Lagos had said:
“There will be more significant improvements
in health care delivery in Nigeria, if trained
and experienced administrators are allowed
to head the country’s health institutions,
rather than the present system which allows
only doctors to head these institutions as a
right. According to him, most of the people
who studied medicine and who are heading
national hospitals do not have any
experience in health management and
hospital management. We need people that
studied management to head our health
system. I think there will be more significant
improvements, if we do this. In Germany
where I studied, a board of directors usually
heads a hospital. The board has as members
a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant etc. The
overall head of that team is usually not a
medical doctor, unless such a doctor has
extra qualification in administration”. –
Pharmanews, Nov. 2004, vol. 26 No. 11 pg.
55.
The NMA leadership in an attempt to cajole
the Government of their good intention if
any said that NMA as a responsible
professional body and the custodian of the
peoples' health, would continue to support
the Government as it strives to improve the
health of our citizens through committed zeal
in the discharge of our duties in a press
release after their meeting of Friday 23rd
May, 2014.
If NMA admits that health sector is made up
of team players then it should discard the
idea of self projection as leader of the team
as anyone with administrative competence
and resource management irrespective of
his/her professional background in the
health sector can lead for a good result.
I therefore submit that the tide of bickering
in the health sector can be stemmed to its
low ebb if these submissions are taken and
acted upon.
1. That the Federal Government must not
succumb to the cheap blackmail of NMA and
her allies by granting requests that
undermine the interest of the Nigerians.
2. That Government should without further
delay institute appropriate disciplinary
measures according to the provisions of the
Public Service Rules, to curb this unfortunate
phenomenon of unregulated display by NMA
turned into political activism and
gangsterism to the extent of total lack of
respect to laws and regulations. The earlier
this scenario is arrested the better for the
nation.
3. With their recent actions, what is the
place of these statements? Rather it is a blab
of semantics from a set of lunatics who do
not respect the sanctity of lives of Nigerians
rather they chose to abandon Government
hospitals for their privately owned ones at
the expense of the Government they pledge
allegiance. Who is fooling whom?
4. Resident doctors should be tamed to
observe the rules while on training and
various Teaching Hospital and Federal
Medical centre should employ Hospital paid
and graded Consultants not relying on the
touting set of Consultants from the
University on secondment to the adjoining
Teaching Hospitals who are more concerned
with the place of their primary assignments
rather than rendering service they are paid
for which accounts for patients not seeing
Consultants on their clinic days hence leave
these patients’ care in the hands of students.
5. Stakeholders’ round table meeting should
be arranged devoid of sentiments and ego to
discuss the way forward in the health sector
with respect to statutory laws and
regulations.
obisco64@yahoo.com
08022640555

Source : https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10202444035770118&id=1470751447&refid=28&_ft_=qid.6032142253291530764%3Amf_story_key.-5380317165680186247&__tn__=%2As

very long post... and very exciting. but doesnt mean m buying it. If any one wants the jobs nd privildges of a medical doctor, he should become one. dts simple. all this may be reasonable but we re not ready for the cascade. I think there are oda issues in dis country that deserve this attention. tnk u

We know them when the talk or post articles to suit their unmerited demands. JOHESU should find a way to address their insecurity and inferiority complex.

The general public should please read this article to avoid being brain washed by JOHESU(Hear from both sides before calling Doctors devils): NMA Strike And Crises In The Health Sector - Health - Nairaland https://www.nairaland.com/1798239/nma-strike-crises-health-sector#24440675

I have often drawn a simile between "the brain is to the human body as the doctor is to the health team". Physicians should appreciate that health care is in a deplorable state essentially because the quality and competence of most doctors are very low. http://www.medicalworldnigeria.com/2013/11/new-trend-in-surgical-residency-in-nigeria-by-oluyombo-awojobi

Of course, that goes for all professions in Nigeria. Professionals ALLIED to medicine are reacting to that situation without saying so. The scenario is akin to the DECEREBRATE, VEGETATIVE state of the human body when the brain is sick in line with the Yoruba proverb that literally translates: “When the cat goes on sabbatical, the rats take over the house!!”
So, the solution to the logjam is to improve the training of the physician at all levels while telling our colleagues in the health team to undertake medical training if they want to be CMDs. The present head of NAFDAC is both a physician and a lawyer like several physicians.