Allocate 15% Annual Budget To Health Sector, NMA Tells Federal Gov’t

The Nigerian Medical Associates (NMA) has called on the federal government to allocate at least 15% of the National budget to health as stipulated in the Abuja declaration.

It said such improved funds by the government will be an initial step to show commitment to the growth of the country’s ailing health sector.

The medical body which also demanded better welfare packages for its members said such will help in addressing the brain drain syndrome among health personnel in the country.

The Chairman, NMA Ekiti State branch, Dr Babatunde Rosiji, stated this in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital during a press conference held at the end of the branch 26th Annual General Meeting of the branch with “Medical Legislation: The Need for Inclusiveness in Achieving Stability in the Health Industry”.and sub-theme “Crisis in the Global Healthcare Manpower: Implications and Solutions’.

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Dr Rosiji said: “Now that ‘fuel subsidy is gone’, we expect the Governments at all levels to now as a matter of duty devote at least 15% of the annual budget to health as stated in the Abuja Declaration.

“The safest thing to do is to develop our health sector to the point that all (mighty and commoners) will be able to access healthcare at the nearest point possible.

“I previously said, if nothing deliberate is done to rescue the health sector, native doctors will soon start running our hospitals! The neglect of the health sector is already leading to the proliferation of quacks who are now even brazenly parading themselves as doctors and even conducting graduations to induct their apprentices to the ‘Medical Profession’. If this is allowed to continue, the nation will be the sore loser!.”

Reeling out the communique, he said: “The AGM identified with the need to remove subsidy on petroleum products which is for the overall good of our Nation as we cannot as a nation continue to shoulder the economic burden of other countries but also frowned at the delay by the FG in rolling out palliatives to match the level of suffering of average Nigerians.

“The AGM observed that the subsidy removal coupled with the declining value of the naira have led to an astronomical increase in the cost of drugs and medical consumables. This coupled with the prohibitive cost of transportation is threatening delivery of qualitative health services as it is becoming increasingly difficult for health workers to commute daily to the hospitals and to keep medical services running uninterruptedly.

“At this critical time when brain drain is dealing a blow to the health sector, it is expected of government to do everything possible to endear and not further encourage the exodus of doctors by prioritizing their welfare and achieve stability in the health industry.

“The AGM identifies with the Cross Rivers Branch of NMA on the continued detention of one of our professors, Prof . Ekanem-Ephraim. It is callous to subject a professional and mother to this harrowing experience for over 30 days. We call on the FG and Cross Rivers Government to urgently take steps that will result in her immediate and unconditional release.

“The AGM called on the Federal Government to provide a general cover by rolling out far reaching palliatives which will be in tandem with the over 300% increase in the cost of petroleum products occasioned by the sudden removal of fuel subsidy.

“The AGM called on the FG to urgently address the rising cost of drugs and medical consumables and ensure universal coverage of citizens under the NHIA.

“The AGM applauded the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of workers in Ekiti State demonstrated again in the recently rolled out palliativescalled on other state Governors to follow suit.

“The AGM called on the security operatives and the Inspector General of police to urgently secure the release of Professor Ekanem-Ephraim from her abductors. The AGM called on the Lagos State Government to do all within her power to leave no stone unturned in identifying the root cause of the elevator crash that killed Dr. Vwaere Daiso.”