The Ogun state Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Olajide Abayomi has condemned the move by the federal executive council to ban the engagement of public doctors from private practice.
Dr Olajide exclusively told PLATFORM TIMES in a telephone interview.
It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council recently proposed to stop public doctors from operating in private hospitals.
Dr. Olajide argued that the FEC should stop chasing shadows as there are more pressing issues to be addressed.
He said the Federal Executive Council is not a legal body and does not have the right to make such pronouncement adding that there is an existing act of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) that established and regulates medical practice in Nigeria.
The Nero psychiatrist argued that the MDCN act allows medical and dental practitioners in full time employment in the public service to employ their spare time to engage in private practice.
He said"Any doctor that is at the level of a consultant or that has spent over ten years in full time employment is allowed to open a private consulting clinic during the period when such a doctor is not on official duty".
Olajide also challenged the FEC to rather approach the national assembly "if there is any need to modify".
"FEC coming to setup another rule would be a violation of the law" he said
Dr. Olajide urged that the Federal Executive Council to address more germane issues in the health sector, such as 'the national health act' which has been passed into law since 2014 but has not been operational.
Another issue according to him is the dental health act, and most importantly is the level of infrastructural decay across public hospitals.
"I want to hear from the Federal Executive Council that they rise up to say, no governor, no legislator, no judge would travel out of the country to seek medical care, but they will patronise our local hospitals". He continued
He further argued that engaging in private practice would not compromise the commitment of doctors in public service.
He said "the WHO recommendation for Nigeria is one doctor to 600 indigenes. As we speak we have up to one to thirty thousands. How can this complement good services to the country".
He also lamented lack of personnel in public hospitals, which has resulted in avoidable death of sick people.
He said, "As I speak with you, we have limited number of specialists in the whole of this state. These people have rare skills and their services are needed".
Government cannot employ all specialists, government does not even have the capacity to employ up to 50% of what is needed. So without this private practice you cannot compliment government service because people would be left to suffer" he explained
"Government is failing in their responsibility. They are not employing, they are not even replacing those ones that have retired"
"Most of the medical directors that are manning these hospitals have written memos, letters; they have sought for approval to replace the workforce that has retired and yet there have been no improvement".
On the no work, no pay doctrine proposed by the government.
Dr. Olajide agrees with the government but blames it for the incessant industrial actions especially in the health sector.
He claimed that associations and unions resort to industrial action when the government reneges on promises therewith.
"No work no pay. Such law is welcome, if government has satisfied their own part of the bargain else, they would be the one inciting workers to go on strike"
He urged the government to ensure that workers' salaries are paid as at when due.
"Workers are also saying no pay no work".
"How do you explain to doctors who have been working in States like Oyo, Osun, who have not been paid their salaries or receiving half salaries. Are they supposed to do half service?

source: www.platformtimes.com.ng/index.php/health/8955-nma-to-fg-public-doctors-have-the-right-to-own-private-clinics

abiooooo

Nonsense talk,football players with eleven man team can never play home and away at the same time and be in different wages,abeg better pick one and leave the other.
Loyalty brings about efficiency in everything one does.

phrancys001:
Nonsense talk,football players with eleven man team can never play home and away at the same time and be in different wages,abeg better pick one and leave the other.
Loyalty brings about efficiency in everything one does.

Very true.

Their spare time should be used to rest or research. The conflict if purpose will always exist, that is why we have situations where doctors on gov payroll refer patients to their own clinics or use government time for their private clinic and sometimes even divert the drugs or equipment for their clinics

rottennaija:


Very true.

Their spare time should be used to rest or research. The conflict if purpose will always exist, that is why we have situations where doctors on gov payroll refer patients to their own clinics or use government time for their private clinic and sometimes even divert the drugs or equipment for their clinics

But we seem indifferent to the facts and figures presented by the learned medical practitioner. We have limited medical personnel, and the govt is not willing to strengthen the workforce in public hospitals.
How do we justify that we operate a one-doctor to 30,000 people as against one to 600 proposed by WHO.
This country just get as e be

rottennaija:


Very true.

Their spare time should be used to rest or research. The conflict if purpose will always exist, that is why we have situations where doctors on gov payroll refer patients to their own clinics or use government time for their private clinic and sometimes even divert the drugs or equipment for their clinics

Conflict of purpose you say and I agree but if the purpose is to maximize profit then we need enquire about the doctors' take home, perhaps it's not getting home

Oluwatobex:

But we seem indifferent to the facts and figures presented by the learned medical practitioner. We have limited medical personnel, and the govt is not willing to strengthen the workforce in public hospitals.
How do we justify that we operate a one-doctor to 30,000 people as against one to 600 proposed by WHO.
This country just get as e be

At the same time. This one-doctor to 30,000 people have private clinics. One wonders if those included among the 30000 are among those in private clinic owned by these doctors.

Facts is, 90% or more of our doctors are interested in money. So, even if it is one doctor to one patient, they will still work in private clinics or own one themselves while getting money from government. And last last, it is the government that will be cheated and that translates to patients being cheated.

rottennaija:


At the same time. This one-doctor to 30,000 people have private clinics. One wonders if those included among the 30000 are among those in private clinic owned by these doctors.

Facts is, 90% or more of our doctors are interested in money. So, even if it is one doctor to one patient, they will still work in private clinics or own one themselves while getting money from government. And last last, it is the government that will be cheated and that translates to patients being cheated.

Everyone is interested in money but doing it at the detriment of poor patients who cannot afford private clinics is unfair and unprofessional.
However, how well are our doctors taken care of? Some States are still owing them... How about the quality of facilities at their disposal. You would agree with me that some private hospitals are better equipped than the public's.

Oluwatobex:

Everyone is interested in money but doing it at the detriment of poor patients who cannot afford private clinics is unfair and unprofessional.
However, how well are our doctors taken care of? Some States are still owing them... How about the quality of facilities at their disposal. You would agree with me that some private hospitals are better equipped than the public's.

The question is not just how well the doctors are taken care of. Every sector in Nigeria is clamoring for better package. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, civil servant, engineers etc.

But compared to other professions, doctors and nurses take a bigger piece of the pie. Lawyers too.

But in all these, we are missing the bigger picture and that which is proposed by the FG. Which is, if you are a doctor in the public sector, focus in that. If you want to practice private, go to private practice period. So we know who we have and how to care for them.

rottennaija:


The question is not just how well the doctors are taken care of. Every sector in Nigeria is clamoring for better package. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, civil servant, engineers etc.

But compared to other professions, doctors and nurses take a bigger piece of the pie. Lawyers too.

But in all these, we are missing the bigger picture and that which is proposed by the FG. Which is, if you are a doctor in the public sector, focus in that. If you want to practice private, go to private practice period. So we know who we have and how to care for them.

I quite agree with you. The problem cut across all sectors.
The government proposal seem brilliant but they should prepare better package for doctors(as well as others). These people are dealing with lives

Oluwatobex:

I quite agree with you. The problem cut across all sectors.
The government proposal seem brilliant but they should prepare better package for doctors(as well as others). These people are dealing with lives

You seem to be a doctor. Are you one?

rottennaija:


You seem to be a doctor. Are you one?

lol.... Do I sound like one? Well, I'm proudly a journalist, but I've got a best friend who's a student-doctor

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