The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has asked the Federal Government to commence full implementation of the National Health Act.
MDCAN asked President Jonathan to ignore the cacophony of threats and admit the fundamental findings of the Yayale Committee set up with a view to restoring sanity to the health services which should not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency, or political correctness.
These were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of National Executive Council meeting of MDCAN signed by its President Steven Oluwole.
The association noted that the less than salutary state of health care delivery in Nigeria suffered further assault in the past six months from strikes by several unions in the Health Services but lamented that the objectives of the strikes were not to improve or develop service delivery.
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On the health sector crisis, MDCAN stated that while the meeting of President Goodluck Jonathan with JOHESU, which led to the suspension of the strike is welcoming and appropriate, noted “it is very disturbing that the President appears to appease JOHESU to further subject the fundamental findings of Yayale Ahmed Committee to further debate.
Yayale Ahmed Committee was not set up to advance, enshrine, or endorse the manifesto and desires of any Union, or translate the demands of JOHESU to Government white paper”.
Oluwole, a medical doctor, in the communiqué said the objections of JOHESU to the recommendations of the committee’s further demonstrate JOHESU’s intent to invent a health system that has no equivalent in the world.
MDCAN said “JOHESU should accept the Yayale Ahmed definition of medically qualified, which was based on the NIC judgement as it demanded. Rescind the pursuit of unhealthy rivalry based on the structure and organisation of health services outside Nigeria, which Yayale Ahmed Committee documented”
“Then seek enhancement of remuneration for its members through legitimate labour law processes rather than usurpation of roles and assumptions of titular positions that will distort the command structure of the health services.”
Other requests tabled in the communiqué includes “Accept their defined roles in the hospitals as practised in health institutions visited by Yayale Ahmed Committee, encourage their members in the laboratory services to work under the leadership of medical doctors as recommended by Yayale Ahmed Committee, withdraw court cases that Yayale Ahmed findings have rendered obsolete, stop all acts of hooliganism and vandalism and finally, be prepared to parley with MDCAN to achieve peaceful and healthy professional co-existence in the hospitals.
Remi Feyisipo
