VANGUARD
THE Nigerian Medical Association, NMA ,has said it would deploy all legitimate means at its disposal to resist resist compulsory five year service to Nigeria by medical doctors of Nigerians origin as being proposed through a bill at the National Assembly.
Recall that the bill before the House of Representatives and sponsored by a lawmker,Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, representing Oshodi Isolo II Federal Constituency,proposed that trained medical or dental practitioners compulsorily work in the country for a minimum of five years before they are granted full licenses or travel abroad.
The NMA has also called on the House of Representatives to discard the bill just as it asked the lower legislative chamber of the National Assembly to rather “put pressure on Government to address the ‘push’ factors propelling brain drain which has led to the mass exodus of doctors and other health workers for greener pastures”
It also called on the Federal Ministry of Health to “jettison the idea of forced bonding of doctors via a policy directive as it is against natural justice, equity and good conscience” vowing that it shall be stoutly resisted by the NMA.
The position of the Nigerian medical practitioners was part of 14-point resolutions contained in its communique released at the end of its 63rd Annual General Conference and Delegates Meeting,held the Catholic Event Centre,Jalingo,Taraba State from April 30 to May 7,2023.
In the communique signed by NMA president,Dr. Uche Ojinmah and Secretary General, Dr. Jide Onyekwelu,the body reiterated that government at all levels should as a “matter of urgency prioritise healthcare, show better political commitment to healthcare financing, pay better and competitive salaries, provide better work environment, rejig the security architecture to protect lives and property, provide access to social amenities and increased opportunities for doctors in Nigeria.”
It identified the critical factors as key to reversing the on-going brain drain, saying it could turn same into brain gain.
“The AGC/DM called on the House of Representatives to reject the bill by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson as the Nigerian Medical Association shall deploy all legitimate means at her disposal to resist any form of enslavement of the Nigerian Medical/Dental practitioner, . The AGC/DM also called on the Federal Ministry of Health to jettison the idea of forced bonding of doctors via a policy directive as it is against natural justice, equity and good conscience, and shall be stoutly resisted by the NMA.
