2016 Physicians Week: Take anti-graft crusade to health sector- NMA

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has demanded that the Buhari administration take anti-corruption crusade to health sector to safeguard resources and account for investment in health. Addressing a press briefing to flag off the 2016 Physicians Week in Abuja, president of NMA, Dr Mike Ogirima, said, "It is our belief that if this is extended […]

 The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has demanded that the Buhari administration take anti-corruption crusade to health sector to safeguard resources and account for investment in health. Addressing a press briefing to flag off the 2016 Physicians Week in Abuja, president of NMA, Dr Mike Ogirima, said, "It is our belief that if this is extended to the health sector, the little resources available in the sector would be properly utilized to improve the affordability and accessibility of healthcare services to Nigerian’s passing through the economic recession.” It comes after reports of corruption-related probes into select judges and the National Assembly stance to probe mismanagement of funds from the Global Alliance for Vaccine Initiative. The week is to consider challenges of health care delivery in a frail economy but has repeated calls on the federal government to reconstitute the board of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, which regulates doctors and dentists. “This call becomes imperative based on the fact that issues bothering  on safety and ethics relating to Doctor- Patient relationship are unattended  to, not only that, litigations are left undetermined in the council," said Ogirima. The association president expressed surprise at government’s directive dissolving all boards and parastatals which spared all non-health related professional regulatory councils but included all health regulatory bodies under the Federal Ministry of health. “This action has made the NMA to doubt the prioritization of health care programmes by FG in its polices,” Ogirima added. Doctors will stage protest walk on Wednesday to demand implementation of the National Health Act, passed into law since December 2014. They have also declared they will provide voluntary specialist care for any of the released Chibok girls. Ogirima said government must not overlook the negative psychological trauma and health challenges facing the released girls