The Nigerian Medical Association has appealed to government at all levels to show more interest in the health sector with a view to improving it.
NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, told our correspondent that the association had been advocating for better health system for a long time, but had yet to receive any positive response in terms of implementation.
Faduyile said doctors had been leaving the shores of the country due to the alleged poor treatment given to them by the government,
He, therefore, urged the government to tackle the issue of inadequate budgetary allocation to the health sector, which the association had been agitating for over a long time.
“We have always been at the forefront, asking for improved package for doctors generally in this country. We have asked that the government should do the needful so that our people (doctors) will stay back home,” Faduyile said.
He also blamed the unconducive work environment in Nigerian hospitals, lack of the requisite equipment and poor remuneration of doctors for the current high rate of brain drain among doctors and other medical professionals in the country.
The NMA president said, “Some of the things that cause the movement of doctors is the work environment and the remuneration as well as equipment. These three things, NMA has been in the fore front for their improvement. The government should improve the budgetary allocation to health, the facilities in our hospitals and lastly they should reduce all the issues limiting proper work environment.
“Most hospitals are no longer employing doctors. When you have a situation where you are not employed, you will have to move to where you will be appreciated. We have a lot of people outside Nigeria, who are ready to employ the doctors.
“We need the state government and the Federal Government to put more interest in the health sector.”
