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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised concerns about the recently proposed bill, on the establishment of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Regulatory Board in Nigeria.
NMA queried why the Federal Ministry of health should such a bill which it claimed has some components that will be in conflict with the statutory functions of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The Association’s concerns was contained in a communique issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was held in Gombe state.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Uche Ojinmah and Dr. Jide Onyekwelu, NMA President and Secretary-General, respectively, suggested that the bill be withdrawn for further inputs and amendments.
The Association stated that the NEC of NMA had directed the NOC to engage the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Health on the need to make amendment to the title of the bill on Complementary, Alternative and traditional Medicine Board to reflect only African Traditional Medicine matters.
This, it added, would ensure more clarity and avert any issue in the future that might lead to industrial disagreement, dispute, or overlap of responsibilities.
It added: “NMA at the NEC meeting also reviewed the level of progress in clearing the backlog of salary arrears of doctors and other health workers in Abia, Ekiti, Ondo and Imo states, and expressed its disappointment with the failure of Abia state Government to pay salaries and other allowances of doctors and other health workers for up to 24 months.
It considered the action by Abia State Government as unfair, irritable and highly provocative to the tenets of civil service and natural justice, while it appreciated the level of progress made in Ekiti, Ondo and Imo States in clearing the unpaid salaries and wages of doctors and other Health workers.
The Association, thus charged its Abia state branch to ensure that the rights and privileges of all doctors in Abia state, especially those working with Abia state Government are not trampled upon.
It advised that the state chapter deploy all legitimate means at their disposal to achieve that, and resolved that NMA Abia state shall serve the State Government three weeks ultimatum and if at the end of the three weeks, the outstanding issues are not resolved, NMA Abia state will embark on an indefinite strike that must involve all doctors in Federal, State and Private hospitals.
NMA, thus, called on the Government of Ekiti, Ondo and Imo States to hasten the process of clearing the unpaid salaries and wages of doctors and other health workers, and also resolved to continue engagement using every lawful means to ensure the payment of the newly approved hazard allowance within next two months.
It also insisted on universal applicability in the implementation of the new hazard allowance for all doctors working in Federal, State and Local Government establishments, commending Delta State Government for being the first to start the payment of the new hazard allowance.
