candygosh: But this is so unfair, there are lots of peope tht need help. Like me, scheduled for surgery tomorrow, how can tht happen now? Theyshould just call off the strike. Ebay of their hippocratic oath, to hold our lives sacred.
Both parties should just come and resolve this thing.

sorry o!!! the nurses can do your surgery.you dont need the doctors.

bumfem:

Area boys masquerading as doctors. Nigerians have suffered in the hands of these disgruntled elements. NMArelevance is being vanished . I can see u guys are struggling to keep afloat.
A responsible ''union "rejoice at industrial action as some of u guys.
Doctors went on strike in lagos and ekiti, nurses covered effectively well without much ado.
who say docs are indispensable. Not all docs senseless though.I commend those that love the job not only for money but see it as a calling .
Many actually went to med schl to escape poverty.This informed there disdained attitude to colleague in other health profession.

Modern health care is delivered multidisciplinarily. Guess what, no one is a superman .We are all very important .Guess why Canada/UK continue to top best countries to live in.

NMA is creating it own healthcare protocol possible only in poverty ridden Africa.

God bless u two times. half of the likes of dis poster in med skul actually went to escape chronic poverty......

Evergreen123:

See this guy, the last johesu strike, doctors worked in the other depts.

shey u knw say pple plenty 4 oda deptment past doctors

chimoz: Am happy.....let pharmacists diagnose illnesses. Inept group of people seeking to reap where they did not sow.
Team NARD

Scared parrot Ever heard of "Clinical Pharmacy Laboratory"?

A Pharmacist can survive in several other organisations aside the hospital.

Those drugs you prescribe weren't produced in the mortuary.

Pharmacists still dictate to you which drug to prescribe to your patients (NAFDAC).

You have to study the British Pharmacopeia (written by Pharmacists & Pharmacologists) to understand the dynamics & kinetics of drugs.

I am not a pharmacist but we all need to appreciate one another in our chosen career.

Chidonc:

shey u knw say pple plenty 4 oda deptment past doctors

so?

cnwamo: l
The big difference between the Nigerian medical teams and those abroad is the doctors have an attitude problem...before you begin insulting me I'm a now a medical student and I'm speaking from first hand experience as a nurse for 5 years...

If I may ask, why did you decide to study medicine having practised as a nurse for that number of years.

Oh mine, oh mine.

Anyone who foresees a logical end to this acrimony between doctors and allied health workers in the near future is living in a dream world. The issues are many but fundamentally the following stand out:

1.The political structure of the country: We started out as a federation and ended up as a unitary system of Government. There can be no real solution unless the federal govt sells the hospitals outright or at least hand them over to states!!!

2.The position of medical doctors from beginning is already entrenched in acts establishing these teaching hospitals and possibly FMC. Unless the laws are amended all other allied health professionals have lost the battle before the first shot is fired and the doctors know it.

3.Does the Chief executive of the Nation have the mindset, the clout or perhaps sufficient interest to midwife above changes? I think not.

In the meantime quality of healthcare delivery will suffer, strikes will continue unabated like clockwork as both parties continue to undermine each other. For doctors to give up headship of these institutions, the law first has to be changed. But their comparing university headship with hospital headship is being disingenous. A lot has changed in the world since those hospitals were established.

The allied health practitioners on the other hand are trying to gain leverage by 'doctorizing' their first degrees using misplaced references in other climes like doctor of optometry, pharmD etc further entrenching anarchy and chaos in a compromised healthcare delivery system.

@joker5180...... The relativity as u put it was the making of Dr Olikoye kuti of blessed memory during IBB regime. It was never a product of collective bargaining. He did it to destroy the existing template since the 80s. That template was the original template for placement of all health prof. including the physician. It was Olikoye that disrupted the system to favour his people. The health sector has not known peace since then.So the relativity as u were taught to believe is a falacy.

CONHESS /COMESS are both product of collective bargaining. So no one is superior to the other.
NMA members were extremely happy when conmess circular was released in President Yaradua regime and no body told the govt that there was an error. it took them 4yrs to discovered that there was an error in the document . God will judge all unrighteousness.

conhess /conmess template has become a bench mark upon which any increment will be built. Any thing done beside this shall be fiasely resisted by JOHESU . It is there right. Docs must learn to live with it.

I need not talk further on "Cconsultancy" bc some in here are either chronically ignorant or decide not to understand issue . The word "consultant "is a generic word. it isn't own by anybody. that some people now come around suddenly that it is the basis of strength of relationship btw docs and patient is laughable . They have lost the battle at NIC but seeking thecourt to reverse itself is another theater of jokes.

@phantom......I doubt if you are a physician ....that physician can make almost all diagnosis without investigation in 21st century healthcare is ridiculous. Pls let us be mindful of what we post in here.

joker5180: 4) appointment of " consultant"

NMA - has no problem with any professional working hard to improve his/her skills to enable him/her reach the pinnacle of his career BUT the ward CONSULTANT as been used in nigerian hospitals denote a medical doctor who after obtaining his MBBS degree from any university undergone an extensive postgraduate training to SPECIALISE in one of many medical fields- a minimum of 5 year postgraduate training depending on your specialty. This broad skills and knowledg give the CONSULTANT ownership of the patient- he makes final decision on patient management.
IMPLICATION if you appoint ' consultant nurse' , ' consultant pharmacist', consultant physiotherapist' and so on there will be chaos in the systems- everybody will claim ownership of the patient, conflicting lines of treatments- nomore coordinated patient care.

this is already happening in UCH,Ibadan,where a consultant(dr)asked a patients bandage be removed and d nurses said their consultant(nurse)has been there and told them no one should remove d bandage.Hmmm,health workers,pls think abt d patients,u can be one,so also your family members.

femyodsky:

If I may ask, why did you decide to study medicine having practised as a nurse for that number of years.

masterstroke!!!!

Evergreen123:

so?

hw dem take one perform all d duties of oda staff

Read through a lot of comments here & can't help feeling we're skirting the real issue.
First my unbiased opinion.

Do doctors have the right to go on strike? Of course. They have a union, unions go on strike all the time. In fact all health care providers in Nigeria have resorted to that one too many times.

Do doctors have a legitimate reason to go on strike? Well in this country any reason is legitimate. Even if it's a simple ego tussle with your counterpart.

As far as industrial actions go, this has to count as one of the stupidest. All that talk of improved healthcare for the populace is just "wash". They put it there to make it look good. Bottom line is both unions want better conditions for their workers, but hey that's what unions are for right?

The two things that could actually swing this in JOHESU's favour - public opinion & legal backing- seem to be lacking. The average Nigerian is fairly ignorant of the facts of the dispute. All people know is Doctors are going on strike cos that is what affects them at the end of the day. Plus while the existing act is in place NMA can point to it all day long. Little wonder they're pushing for the amendment in the National Assembly.

For once the FG can sit back & chill while NMA & JOHESU beat each other senseless. Watching two unions that are supposed to complement each other resort to this sort of behavior is plain disgusting. At the end of the day, the Presidency will simply cut a deal with one of them at the expense of national healthcare.

Now my very biased opinion on the matter; NMA has messed up big time. Doctors ought to be agents of harmony in the health sector and not the sticking point. The fact that all the other disciplines are united against them suggests they have grave faults. JOHESU should adhere to global best practices & not make Nigeria more of a laughing stock than it already is. I don't want to start explaining to a foreigner why Nigeria has Clinical Consultants in Teaching Hospitals that aren't doctors. The present state isn't that good and I shudder to think of what it'll be like with the nurses, lab scientists, etc in charge.

bumfem: @joker5180...... The relativity as u put it was the making of Dr Olikoye kuti of blessed memory during IBB regime. It was never a product of collective bargaining. He did it to destroy the existing template since the 80s. That template was the original template for placement of all health prof. including the physician. It was Olikoye that disrupted the system to favour his people. The health sector has not known peace since then.So the relativity as u were taught to believe is a falacy.

CONHESS /COMESS are both product of collective bargaining. So no one is superior to the other.
NMA members were extremely happy when conmess circular was released in President Yaradua regime and no body told the govt that there was an error. it took them 4yrs to discovered that there was an error in the document . God will judge all unrighteousness.

conhess /conmess template has become a bench mark upon which any increment will be built. Any thing done beside this shall be fiasely resisted by JOHESU . It is there right. Docs must learn to live with it.

I need not talk further on "Cconsultancy" bc some in here are either chronically ignorant or decide not to understand issue . The word "consultant "is a generic word. it isn't own by anybody. that some people now come around suddenly that it is the basis of strength of relationship btw docs and patient is laughable . They have lost the battle at NIC but seeking thecourt to reverse itself is another theater of jokes.

@phantom......I doubt if you are a physician ....that physician can make almost all diagnosis without investigation in 21st century healthcare is ridiculous. Pls let us be mindful of what we post in here.

i agree with the bolded but what extra training have you people put in place to attain consultancy status OR you think you can get msc or phd in any other field and become a consultantin radiography for instance, is it those two month or three month CT or MRI courses they do once in a while that gives them that status? we all can see through their demands.furthering their training is not their priority but this whole thing is just a means to an end.an end where they are on the same pedestal as the doctors.pure and simple


as regards your post directed at me,you are not a doctor.i dont expect you to understand.like i said before,the doctor is the key variable BECAUSE his brain is his most important tool. medicine is an art!!!! an art that is dependent ON questions directed at the patient and examining the patient. that is what we spent 6yrs in school learning. we didnt spend 6years to learn how to request for lab and radiological investigations.

QUOTE ME ANYWHERE,any doctor that depends on ancillary investigations for his diagnosis is a BAD DOCTOR. QED

Acidosis:

Scared parrot A Pharmacist can survive in several other organisations aside the hospital.

Those drugs you prescribe weren't produced in the mortuary.

Pharmacists and still dictate to you which drug to prescribe to your patients (NAFDAC).

You have to study the British Pharmacopeia (written by Pharmacists & Pharmacologists) to understand the dynamics & kinetics of drugs.

We all need to appreciate one another in our chosen career.

God bless you Acidosis. I am a medical doctor and didn't want to comment because there is no need to. This your statement is so correct. I don't think there is any doctor who is currently fighting to head pharmaceutical companies or the health sector. The health sector actually needs a multidisciplinary approach as the patient will be the biggest beneficiary. What NMA is fighting for is that doctors should be the head in the hospital environment, not in the pharmaceutical companies or NGOs. Actually one can become a consultant in any professional field, Business, marketing, etc. so other healthcare professionals should be allowed to become consultant, but with a well structured programme not to rival the medical doctors, but to add more value to the sector.
What most of you don't know is that in public hospitals (teaching hospitals in particular), before a lab result is released, it must be endorsed by a pathologist (who is a medical doctor), medical doctors (radiologist) interprets X-rays, Ultrasound results, MRI and CT scan. The job description is clear, but we all need each other.
In terms of renumeration, if you google the richest professionals in the US, UK, etc, you will find medical doctors (different specialties) topping the list. You can hardly find other health professionals on the list. Doctors don't earn the same amount with other health professionals anywhere in the world. But other health care professionals have the right to earn big as well.
In terms of medical school, yes, other health professionals take BASIC courses in anatomy, biochemistry and physiology but not as deep as a doctor (in Lagos, most hospitals employ auxiliary nurses, can we then call these auxiliary nurses real nurses and earn same as a registered nurse because they can give injections and dress wounds)?
I work in Lagos and most private hospitals are owned by doctors, those that are not owned by doctors must employ a doctor before they are given a licence to function, the disparity is even wider in private setting where doctors earn 100 naira, registered nurses earn 50 naira while the auxiliary nurses earn about 15 naira (they do most of the work).
Let's tell ourselves the truth, none of us will visit any centre if there is no doctor there. Yes, doctors make mistakes, but I can tell you that the mistake is everywhere.... Imagine a pharmacist who prescribed ciprofloxacin and fansidar to a pregnant woman before quickening which resulted in a miscarriage. Knowledge and experience is key. I will never go and start mixing different chemicals to produce a drug, that is not my field or area of specialization.

We should work together in the health sector. Take a clue from the public health team (anybody can become a public health expert), let's respect boundaries, doctors must respect other health workers, they must respect us as well.
Within the four walls of a hospital, the doctor is head, however the health sector is big enough for everybody, the pharmacist is the head in a pharmaceutical company, the engineer is the head of a biomedical tech, the nurses are care givers, sweet and always trained to assist the doctor so as to give patients the best of care.
I rest my case.

moneyallowed: Read through a lot of comments here & can't help feeling we're skirting the real issue.
First my unbiased opinion.

Do doctors have the right to go on strike? Of course. They have a union, unions go on strike all the time. In fact all health care providers in Nigeria have resorted to that one too many times.

Do doctors have a legitimate reason to go on strike? Well in this country any reason is legitimate. Even if it's a simple ego tussle with your counterpart.

As far as industrial actions go, this has to count as one of the stupidest. All that talk of improved healthcare for the populace is just "wash". They put it there to make it look good. Bottom line is both unions want better conditions for their workers, but hey that's what unions are for right?

The two things that could actually swing this in JOHESU's favour - public opinion & legal backing- seem to be lacking. The average Nigerian is fairly ignorant of the facts of the dispute. All people know is Doctors are going on strike cos that is what affects them at the end of the day. Plus while the existing act is in place NMA can point to it all day long. Little wonder they're pushing for the amendment in the National Assembly.

For once the FG can sit back & chill while NMA & JOHESU beat each other senseless. Watching two unions that are supposed to complement each other resort to this sort of behavior is plain disgusting. At the end of the day, the Presidency will simply cut a deal with one of them at the expense of national healthcare.

Now my very biased opinion on the matter; NMA has messed up big time. Doctors ought to be agents of harmony in the health sector and not the sticking point. The fact that all the other disciplines are united against them suggests they have grave faults. JOHESU should adhere to global best practices & not make Nigeria more of a laughing stock than it already is. I don't want to start explaining to a foreigner why Nigeria has Clinical Consultants in Teaching Hospitals that aren't doctors. The present state isn't that good and I shudder to think of what it'll be like with the nurses, lab scientists, etc in charge.

what suggests the bolded? do we leave them to their whims and caprices do you want a situation where a surgeon orders a certain wound should remain closed for 3 days and a consultant nurse counteracts that order? do you want a situation where a cardiologist writes a prescription for heart failure and the consultant pharmacist cancels it?? who really owns the patient who has the final say at the end of the day? anarchy would be the order of the day. NMA is trying to prevent that.forget all the hogwash johesu is throwing about saying doctors are seating on their progress.its not true!!! quote me.......THIS IS A BATTLE TO UNDERMINE THE DOCTOR.DONT BE DECIEVED!!!

Dr_OBD:

God bless you Acidosis. I am a medical doctor and didn't want to comment because there is no need to. This your statement is so correct. I don't think there is any doctor who is currently fighting to head pharmaceutical companies or the health sector. The health sector actually needs a multidisciplinary approach as the patient will be the biggest beneficiary. What NMA is fighting for is that doctors should be the head in the hospital environment, not in the pharmaceutical companies or NGOs. Actually one can become a consultant in any professional field, Business, marketing, etc. so other healthcare professionals should be allowed to become consultant, but with a well structured programme not to rival the medical doctors, but to add more value to the sector.
What most of you don't know is that in public hospitals (teaching hospitals in particular), before a lab result is released, it must be endorsed by a pathologist (who is a medical doctor), medical doctors (radiologist) interprets X-rays, Ultrasound results, MRI and CT scan. The job description is clear, but we all need each other.
In terms of renumeration, if you google the richest professionals in the US, UK, etc, you will find medical doctors (different specialties) topping the list. You can hardly find other health professionals on the list. Doctors don't earn the same amount with other health professionals anywhere in the world. But other health care professionals have the right to earn big as well.
In terms of medical school, yes, other health professionals take BASIC courses in anatomy, biochemistry and physiology but not as deep as a doctor (in Lagos, most hospitals employ auxiliary nurses, can we then call these auxiliary nurses real nurses and earn same as a registered nurse because they can give injections and dress wounds)?
I work in Lagos and most private hospitals are owned by doctors, those that are not owned by doctors must employ a doctor before they are given a licence to function, the disparity is even wider in private setting where doctors earn 100 naira, registered nurses earn 50 naira while the auxiliary nurses earn about 15 naira (they do most of the work).
Let's tell ourselves the truth, none of us will visit any centre if there is no doctor there. Yes, doctors make mistakes, but I can tell you that the mistake is everywhere.... Imagine a pharmacist who prescribed ciprofloxacin and fansidar to a pregnant woman before quickening which resulted in a miscarriage. Knowledge and experience is key. I will never go and start mixing different chemicals to produce a drug, that is not my field or area of specialization.

We should work together in the health sector. Take a clue from the public health team (anybody can become a public health expert), let's respect boundaries, doctors must respect other health workers, they must respect us as well.
Within the four walls of a hospital, the doctor is head, however the health sector is big enough for everybody, the pharmacist is the head in a pharmaceutical company, the engineer is the head of a biomedical tech, the nurses are care givers, sweet and always trained to assist the doctor so as to give patients the best of care.
I rest my case.

God bless you!!!!!

Chidonc:

hw dem take one perform all d duties of oda staff

Determination
See u.

Dr_OBD:

God bless you Acidosis. I am a medical doctor and didn't want to comment because there is no need to. This your statement is so correct. I don't think there is any doctor who is currently fighting to head pharmaceutical companies or the health sector. The health sector actually needs a multidisciplinary approach as the patient will be the biggest beneficiary. What NMA is fighting for is that doctors should be the head in the hospital environment, not in the pharmaceutical companies or NGOs. Actually one can become a consultant in any professional field, Business, marketing, etc. so other healthcare professionals should be allowed to become consultant, but with a well structured programme not to rival the medical doctors, but to add more value to the sector.
What most of you don't know is that in public hospitals (teaching hospitals in particular), before a lab result is released, it must be endorsed by a pathologist (who is a medical doctor), medical doctors (radiologist) interprets X-rays, Ultrasound results, MRI and CT scan. The job description is clear, but we all need each other.
In terms of renumeration, if you google the richest professionals in the US, UK, etc, you will find medical doctors (different specialties) topping the list. You can hardly find other health professionals on the list. Doctors don't earn the same amount with other health professionals anywhere in the world. But other health care professionals have the right to earn big as well.
In terms of medical school, yes, other health professionals take BASIC courses in anatomy, biochemistry and physiology but not as deep as a doctor (in Lagos, most hospitals employ auxiliary nurses, can we then call these auxiliary nurses real nurses and earn same as a registered nurse because they can give injections and dress wounds)?
I work in Lagos and most private hospitals are owned by doctors, those that are not owned by doctors must employ a doctor before they are given a licence to function, the disparity is even wider in private setting where doctors earn 100 naira, registered nurses earn 50 naira while the auxiliary nurses earn about 15 naira (they do most of the work).
Let's tell ourselves the truth, none of us will visit any centre if there is no doctor there. Yes, doctors make mistakes, but I can tell you that the mistake is everywhere.... Imagine a pharmacist who prescribed ciprofloxacin and fansidar to a pregnant woman before quickening which resulted in a miscarriage. Knowledge and experience is key. I will never go and start mixing different chemicals to produce a drug, that is not my field or area of specialization.

We should work together in the health sector. Take a clue from the public health team (anybody can become a public health expert), let's respect boundaries, doctors must respect other health workers, they must respect us as well.
Within the four walls of a hospital, the doctor is head, however the health sector is big enough for everybody, the pharmacist is the head in a pharmaceutical company, the engineer is the head of a biomedical tech, the nurses are care givers, sweet and always trained to assist the doctor so as to give patients the best of care.
I rest my case.

Best comment so far

phantom: i agree with the bolded but what extra training have you people put in place to attain consultancy status OR you think you can get msc or phd in any other field and become a consultantin radiography for instance, is it those two month or three month CT or MRI courses they do once in a while that gives them that status? we all can see through their demands.furthering their training is not their priority but this whole thing is just a means to an end.an end where they are on the same pedestal as the doctors.pure and simple


as regards your post directed at me,you are not a doctor.i dont expect you to understand.like i said before,the doctor is the key variable BECAUSE his brain is his most important tool. medicine is an art!!!! an art that is dependent ON questions directed at the patient and examining the patient. that is what we spent 6yrs in school learning. we didnt spend 6years to learn how to request for lab and radiological investigations.

QUOTE ME ANYWHERE,any doctor that depends on ancillary investigations for his diagnosis is a BAD DOCTOR. QED

ncerely doctors need not worry about other professional method of progression so far the appointment of consultancy are regulated by govt approved bodies. More so, they are consultant in their various profession and not in medicine. If the govt that fund this regulatory bodies is fine with the standard set for appointment of consultancy so be it. I see no reason why NMA seem to be crying than the bereaved.

Consultancy are confer on other health professional in western world ,whose system we are trying to copy. I see no reason why NMA is not comfortable with this.

In modern medicine, lab investigations are far becoming sacrosant to making informed impression that drives appropriate care and also to be at safer side of the law medicolegally. Nigerian physicians do what they like and call it practice because there are no laws protecting our patient here or laws are not been enforced.

Off course, making correct diagnosis starts from history taking in other to enrich yourself in review of system and system review . In most cases in modern medical practice,data collection/lab investigation/and or imaging follows in other to make informed evaluation of the problem.

In fact NMA need to focus on improving nigeria healthcare index in africa not to talk of the world. And get busy instead of fighting who becomes what in hospital. Respects are earn and not by intimidation and share blackmail.

phantom: what suggests the bolded? do we leave them to their whims and caprices do you want a situation where a surgeon orders a certain wound should remain closed for 3 days and a consultant nurse counteracts that order? do you want a situation where a cardiologist writes a prescription for heart failure and the consultant pharmacist cancels it?? who really owns the patient who has the final say at the end of the day? anarchy would be the order of the day. NMA is trying to prevent that.forget all the hogwash johesu is throwing about saying doctors are seating on their progress.its not true!!! quote me.......THIS IS A BATTLE TO UNDERMINE THE DOCTOR.DONT BE DECIEVED!!!

GBAM!!!!!

bumfem:

ncerely doctors need not worry about other professional method of progression so far the appointment of consultancy are regulated by govt approved bodies. More so, they are consultant in their various profession and not in medicine. If the govt that fund this regulatory bodies is fine with the standard set for appointment of consultancy so be it. I see no reason why NMA seem to be crying than the bereaved.

Consultancy are confer on other health professional in western world ,whose system we are trying to copy. I see no reason why NMA is not comfortable with this.

In modern medicine, lab investigations are far becoming sacrosant to making informed impression that drives appropriate care and also to be at safer side of the law medicolegally. Nigerian physicians do what they like and call it practice because there are no laws protecting our patient here or laws are not been enforced.

Off course, making correct diagnosis starts from history taking in other to enrich yourself in review of system and system review . In most cases in modern medical practice,data collection/lab investigation/and or imaging follows in other to make informed evaluation of the problem.

In fact NMA need to focus on improving nigeria healthcare index in africa not to talk of the world. And get busy instead of fighting who becomes what in hospital. Respects are earn and not by intimidation and share blackmail.

I agree with you totally BUT johesu have not gone about this struggle well.too much bad blood.

we appreciate all other health care workers but we are not on the same level as they are. they need to appreciate that. U know doctors are more focused on their jobs than on unionism, but it seems that because of this some ppl want to ride on us. it is our fault. we have been too accomodating. we have compromised standards in health care delivery in trying to understand the plight of our fellow nigerians, in trying to remain gentlemen and ladies. by so doing we have demystified our profession. everyone thinks he or she can do the job of a doctor now. in fact everyone thinks they can second guess a doctor now. everyone know our job more than us. to the extent that i am reading current trends in diagnosis from non-doctors on this thread. lab scientists want to regulate equipment used by doctors! wonders shall never end. anyway from tomorrow all of you will have the chance to play doctor to your satisfaction, diagnose and treat as many diseases as you like with as many drugs as you can formulate. goats. there is no job in the hospital that a doctor cannot do, but who else can do ours? U have forgotten that the medical profession gave birth to all hospital workers without exception. now they think we are equal. na wa ooooo! only in naija.

I weep for this country for the level of reasoning displayed here...
A country where ignorance is rife and common sense is sacrificed to the winds!
There is a huge problem in the nigerian health sector and the average nigeria is blind to all these.
With this NMA strike, I hope the government would experience the wake- up call and do things right.
At least, they sowed the first seed of discord.

JOHESU- joint health sector union.
They had to merge to have a voice to achieve a selfish goal.

phantom: sorry o!!! the nurses can do your surgery.you dont need the doctors.

I wanted to write shut up before but then I just told myself not to. Do u have to be sarcastic, use ur brain when needed pls. You shouldn't ve quoted me to write tht rubbish. I understand u will be jobless as from tomorow but save us ur stupidity.
And. To think you r supposed to be a doctor, I shake my head for this country.

candygosh:


I wanted to write shut up before but then I just told myself not to. Do u have to be sarcastic, use ur brain when needed pls. You shouldn't ve quoted me to write tht rubbish. I understand u will be jobless as from tomorow but save us ur stupidity.
And. To think you r supposed to be a doctor, I shake my head for this country.

i am sorry. shouldnt have made that comment.please accept my apology.i wish you a good surgery and a quick recovery. best regards

In few hours, all doctors in Nigeria will embark on indefinite strike. I have discharged all my patients both stable and unstable. I wish them best of luck.

It's obvious that most people commenting on this issue are, with due respect, ignorant of the issues leading to the strike. Don't know what each & everyone of your studied or do for a living, but i do not think that you will be happy if you are compared to a less qualified person in all ramifications. It's only in Nigeria that merit paves way for mediocrity & supposed learned people are in support. I weep for Nigeria & for you guys bc you are yet to realise the enormity of this situation.

For clarification purposes, the title " consultant" is earned & not ordained or corronated. Every specialty has it's own cadre & ranks. In Medicine, a consultant is someone that has passed many reproducible exams, from being a Registrar to a Senior Registrar then a Consultant after > 6years of intensive postgraduate training. Why must JOHESU copy Drs? They should choose their own ranks so that their is no confusion especially to you people in the public. They secretly treat patients & are called Drs for which they answer knowing that they are not one. They now want to legitimize the confusion for which we say no!

On the issue of hospital headship, a para-legal cannot be a judge even after working in the court for many years. Likewise an NSCDC member cannot be chief of defense staff without joining the military even though they all are involved in security. Likewise the title of general is exclusive for the military. Other security agencies have their own ranks. Why will it be different in the health sector.
We all agree it's teamwork but there must be a versatile leader. Remember that the JOHESU members are support staff primarily tasked with dispensing drugs & analysis of body fluids so how can they now lord over Doctors?
I think that every right thinking society renumerates individuals based on knowledge, skill, job description training etc. Why does JOHESU wants it to be eroded? I believe everyone reading this article will want his/her loved one to study medicine instead of lab science, nursing if giving the opportunity which clearly shows that there's a difference.

A word is enough for the wise. Please think well b4 you comment & please stop hating Drs.

I'm a doctor and I believe I should know a little more about this than non health-workers. The way the hospital is right now, making non-doctors consultants will worsen the anarchy that we presently have- has anyone seen two consultants (without bad blood) arguing over how best to treat a patient with neither trying to baulk? Its gonna get worse when they get their consultant status and want to 'exercise' it.
Many of the other healthcare workers (since they want to be known that way) are lovely indivuals, but many also, have a palpable inferiority complex- they are just out to fight. They are bleeding nasty!
I can remember when I started house-job. Was told by a matron to please excuse them on the ward because they wanted to hand- over to the next shift (my offence being that I resumed work before 8:00am).
Many a doctor- particularly young ones would have had experiences similar to these. We aren't fighting them, they are fighting us.
Imagine a plastic surgeon being told he can't open a wound because their oga (consultant nurse) just examined it.
I don't believe doctors don't need the others. Its arrant nonsense. But our health system will collapse if this crap is allowed
If u ve been on admission in hospital or visited a hospital long enough, you should know who really has the interest of the patient at heart.

Had a heated NMA congress meeting this evening, EDM's resolutions upheld, withdrawal of service begins in few hours, TOTAL and INDEFINITE. This time it is going to be ASUU style.

Consultants and Chief Medical Officers in other Government Hospitals in the Developed World (International best practices/standards).


We do not need to travel far and wide to know what is happening in other parts of the world because the world has become a global village, all thanks to information technology.
The conflict in Nigeria health sector has tugged me to search for what is obtainable on the key warring issues in other developed countries. Ideally the Nigeria Health system format is supposed to be compared with that of the Britain(not the American’s) since Nigeria adopted and is using the British educational/health systems; however reference has been made on American health system in this write up, for obvious reason. I deliberately sourced for all information from current and popular international encyclopedia and/or professional websites not hosted by medical doctors.

Medical/hospital Consultant
The term or title “consultant” is coined from consultation. It is wise to see the standard definitions of medical consultation; which are:
Medical consultation is a formal meeting with a medical doctor for discussion or the seeking of advice….{ www.en.m.wikipedia.org/consultation(medical)}.
It is also defined as a procedure whereby, on request by one Physician, another Physician reviews a patient’s medical history, examines the patient and makes recommendation as to care and treatment….. ( www.medical dictionary.freedictionary.com/medical consultation).

In the UK, Republic of Ireland and parts of the commonwealth countries Medical Consultant is the title of a senior hospital-based physician or surgeon who has completed all of his/her specialist training….. {www. en.m.wikipedia.org/consultant (medicine) , www.medical dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/consultant(medicine), www.gapmedics.co.uk/difference between consultant and a doctor in a hospital }



Consultant Pharmacist
In America Pharmacists are broadly grouped into two:
1. Health system pharmacist
2. Consultant pharmacist
The health system pharmacist is hospital-based pharmacist that provides care to patient on healthcare team. They undergo residency training but are not awarded the title of consultant….(www.asph.org).

Consultant Pharmacists are pharmacist that work as private pharmacist for individual elderly persons or is employed to work in old people homes(institute) to enhance quality of care for all old persons. They are non-hospital staff and do not undergo residency training but write preparation/recertification examinations. They are also called senior care pharmacist… (www.ascp.com).

In USA Consultant Nurse is a registered nurse who uses expertise as a healthcare provider and specialized training to consult on medical related legal case. They assist attorneys in reading medical records and understanding medical terminology and healthcare issues to achieve the best results for their client. They are non-hospital staff….( www.en.m.wikipedia.org/nurse consultant)

Chief Medical Director (Office)
This title is used in many countries for the senior government official designated as head of medical services, usually at the national level. He advices and leads a team of medical experts on matters of importance. { www.en.m.wikipedia.org/chief medical officer, medical dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/chief medical officer, www.ehow.com/chief medical officer, www. gov.uk/government/people/sally-davies}



Surgeon General
In the United States and many areas of the British Commonwealth, this title refers to a physician commissioned by government and entrusted with the public health responsibilities.
In Uk Surgeon General is the senior medical officer of the British Armed Forces… ( www.en.m.wikipedia/surgeon general UK/USA).

Hospital Chief Executive Officer is the highest management position within a hospital in the capitalist countries. He or she is expected to have masters in business Administration, masters in healthcare Administration etc….( in Nigeria such a position is designated as Director of Administration in Teaching Hospitals)……www.degreetree.com/how to become a hospital ceo.

Health Care Professionals are divided into two broad groups:
1. Core Healthcare Professionals
2. Support (Allied) Healthcare Professionals
The core professionals are doctors, nurses and pharmacists….others, except these three, are allied professionals…… (www.wikipedia.org/allied health professions)

joker5180: Had a heated NMA congress meeting this evening, EDM's resolutions upheld, withdrawal of service begins in few hours, TOTAL and INDEFINITE. This time it is going to be ASUU style.

hmmm.i pray everyone involved NMA,JOHESU,Govt solve these with a speed of light.They must not allow hospitals to be shut down,plssss.