NMA Seeks End To Salary Disparity Between Doctors In Hospitals, Academics

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for an end to disparities in remuneration between medical doctors in the hospitals and those in the academic services.

The NMA president, Prof. Muhammad Bala Audu, made the call while addressing the Maiden Annual General Meeting of the Ahmadu Bello University branch of NAMDA, held in Kaduna.

Prof. Audu, who is equally the vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Health Science, Azare, in his keynote address on the theme of the AGM „Contemporary Issues in Medical Education: The Role of Career Guidance and Mentorship“, highlighted some of the challenges facing medical education in Nigeria.

He emphasised that the standard of medical education must not be lowered, adding that it is the only way to ensure that graduates of medical schools can compete favourably with their counterparts from anywhere in the world.

Prof. Audu noted that one of the contemporary issues was the disparity in remuneration for Medical Doctors practicing in the hospitals and those lecturing in the universities.

„One the contemporary issues we are advocating for is the universal applicability of what is being done for medical doctors who practice within the hospital sector, in the teaching hospitals, should be reflected within the university system. Doctors are on a particular salary system that is called CONMESS. Whether or not they practice in the hospital, it should be the same for those who lecture in the universities,“ he said.

Also speaking at the event, the vice-chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Kabir Bala, represented by Professor Muhammad Shehu, described NAMDA as crucial for Nigeria‘s healthcare advancement.