Doctors Embark On Nationwide Strike.....

The Nigerian Medical Association, yesterday in Abuja,  declared they were embarking on a strike satring today[Tuesday]. The president of the association, Dr. Kayode Obembe made this known at a press briefing, stating amongst others the resons for the strike action.

The NMA had sent 24-point demands to the government, including the discontinuation of recognition of non-medical doctors as Directors and Consultant title to any other health worker other than medical doctors.

They had  also  demanded  the appointment of a Surgeon-General of the Federation, payment of clinical duty and hazard allowances and withdrawal of the Central Bank of Nigeria circular on medical laboratory equipment.

“The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted. We have to take this action in order to save the health care delivery system from anarchy that is palpably imminent. We hereby appeal to all Nigerians for their understanding and to press on the government to meet with our demands”, he stated.

  “A consultant is the owner of the patient; many health workers now go about acquiring PhD so that they can be called Doctors. The title should be restricted to only a medical doctor.”

“Every doctor is a member of the NMA; other affiliates are allowed to operate also. We sought legal advice on the court injunction, our legal opinion is that the court order did not mention any reference to the NMA and since it did not mention NMA, we don’t want to dwell on it.”

 “We had a meeting with the Federal Government. We tabled our minimal demands; the government did not agree with NMA, but there is no end point. Some were referred to the court. There was no end point. While this was going on, the government was issuing out circulars favouring other health workers.”