Declare state of emergency in health sector, NMA urges FG

As the nation is seriously hit by brain drain in the health sector, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has asked the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the sector.

The Kwara Chairman of NMA, Dr Abdulkadir Ahmed, made the appeal on Monday while addressing newsmen as part of activities to flag off the 2022 Physicians’ Week with the theme: “Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery System and the 2023 Democratic Transition: A Time to Change the Narrative.”

According to Ahmed, Nigeria is losing human resources in the health sector in geometric progression.

Persecondnews reports that recently health workers, especially medical doctors, have been leaving the country in droves in search of greener pastures abroad.

On the plight of members of the association nationwide, he noted that Nigerian doctors are over worked, lacked necessary work tools and have become a target of kidnappers in addition to being grossly underpaid.

“NMA members have been taken from the lofty heights of nobility to nothingness, by the neglect and possible disdain for the health sector by successive governments.

“The penchant of state governments for seizing or slashing salaries and paying it piecemeal has become a subject of folklore and unthinkable. This trend must be reversed immediately.

“Recently, the Federal Government and some states of the federation also started the implementation of the newly revised hazard allowances for all health workers.

“These have made Kwara State Service unattractive to doctors as evidenced by massive reduction in the number of doctors in service,” Ahmed said.

He also called on the government to do more in ensuring the security of lives and properties.

“Insecurity is impacting negatively on the health of Nigerians and the ability of healthcare workers to deliver services to Nigerians.

“The roads are not safe for our members to move freely to their places of work, especially those outside Ilorin and even our members are afraid of driving at night to attend to emergencies because of fear of kidnapping,” he added.

Ahmed, however, observed that despite the national drawbacks, the Nigerian doctor has a lot to celebrate this week just for being alive.

In the same vein, the Ogun chapter NMA Chairman, Dr. Adekunle Ashimi, expressed regret with the rate at which brain drain had hit the country’s health sector, as he disclosed that no fewer than 10,296 doctors who obtained their degrees in Nigeria were currently practising in the United Kingdom.

He disclosed that Nigeria has the third highest number of foreign doctors working in U.K., after Pakistan and India.

Ashimi said until government declares a state of emergency in the health sector, the trend may continue.

“We call on our government to urgently declare emergency action in Nigeria’s health sector for the sake of the citizens.

“As the situation gets worse, doctors, who stayed behind, are seriously overworked, as bureaucracy has made it difficult for heads of public hospitals to replace the doctors who had left.

“Therefore, those who are working now begin to see reasons to join the train and leave the country,” he said.