Medical association seek better welfare for health workers

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said that health workers, including doctors, working in Kaduna State are currently the least paid in the northwestern states. NMA expressed worry over the poor remuneration saying it was responsible for the frequent migration of health workers from the state. Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, NMA State Chairman Stephen Kachi […]

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has said that health workers, including doctors, working in Kaduna State are currently the least paid in the northwestern states.

NMA expressed worry over the poor remuneration saying it was responsible for the frequent migration of health workers from the state.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, NMA State Chairman Stephen Kachi said Kaduna had over 400 doctors in 2017 but presently the number has dropped to little over 200 doctors to man the 33 general and rural hospitals.

He said the same doctors are expected to supervise the 255 primary healthcare centres across the state.

“How does the state want to attract and retain experienced hands when an entry-level medical doctor in the surrounding states and federal institution earn much higher than a senior medical officer in Kaduna, who has put in at least eight years of service,” he said.

The labour leader added that states like Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Niger have all implemented the CONMES salary scale for their doctors.

This, he said, has seen their doctors earning higher than their counterparts in Kaduna State.

He said investing its time and efforts to come up with a realistic proposal for constructive engagements targeted at addressing the doctors concern and the poor remuneration being paid them would pay the state government better.