MDCAN backs NMA on industrial action, threatens to withdraw services

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has threatened to withdraw its services in compliance with the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) directives should the Federal Government fail to stay action on the concessions granted to Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU).

NMA had threatened to proceed on an indefinite strike by July 1 should the Federal Government fail to meet its demands. But MDCAN in a release signed by Olusegun Ayodeji Oduwole, its national president, in Ibadan, warned the Federal Government to stop playing politics with professional health issues and put on hold all circulars that have been released to please the Joint Health Sectors Union (JOHESU).

The Federal Government had reportedly granted concessions to JOHESU and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Association to include, approval of consultancy positions for support staff, abolition of Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee position and appointment of support staff as directors.

MDCAN said that JOHESU should be prevented from inventing Nigerian type of medical services that will expose the nation to ridicule internationally.

Oluwole, a medical doctor, said while it is the policy of the association to ensure uninterrupted health services, it will provide moral and logistic support to the NMA to ensure sanity within the health sector.

According to the association, politics should not be allowed to destroy Nigeria’s health sector while at the same time accusing JOHESU of pursuing strictly monetary rewards for its members rather than actual practice of medicine, appointment of its members as directors and consultants and creation of autonomous departments for its members.

“That the ultimatum of the NMA to government on JOHESU matters is noted. While MDCAN remains committed to its policy of ensuring uninterrupted health services, it will comply with directives to withdraw services should government allow the situation to deteriorate to the extent that NMA will have no credible alternatives.

“That MDCAN will provide all moral and logistic support to the NMA to ensure success of any action it deems fit to restore sanity to the health sector. MDCAN again appeals to the NLC, ASUU, NBA, and the NUJ to take critical look at the needless anarchy in the health sector and the attendant consequences on healthcare delivery and training of medical students.”

However, the MDCAN boss noted that such concession particularly over consultancy appointment for support staff is presently in the National Industrial Court, wondering why government granted a concession on an highly professional issue.

“The request of JOHESU that medical teachers who traditionally are staff of the university should be eliminated from headship of teaching hospitals is absurd,” adding that “teaching hospitals serve universities from which they derive their names” while at the same time noting that “headship should, therefore, not be political, but professional,” Oluwole added.

Remi Feyisipo