The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Abia State Chapter has appealed to the State and Federal Government to encourage the Doctors by ensuring a uniform implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) across all States and Healthcare levels.
State Chairman of the Association, Dr Ezuruike Ezinwa, who appealed during a Press briefing in Umuahia as part of activities marking the 2024 physician’s week, also called for the prompt payment of all outstanding arrears of salary upgrades to ensure quality healthcare delivery in the State and Nigeria at large.
Dr Ezinwa regretted that despite the strides recorded in the Health sector, Medical Doctors have faced a host of financial disparities between their State and Federal counterparts, creating a fragmented remuneration system that is neither sustainable nor competitive on the global scale.
While regretting that the situation has led to frequent flights by Doctors out of the shores of the Country for Greener pastures, he used the medium to urge the State Government to empower the necessary organ of the Ministry of Health to look into the issues of Medical quacks and quackery in the State.
The NMA Chairman said the theme for this year’s Physician Week; “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare System” is a foundational component of sustainable healthcare.
“Let me at this point appreciate His Excellency, the Governor, Dr Alex Chioma-Oti, for the ongoing bit-by-bit defragment of the arrears of salary owed our members, our colleagues in ABSUTH and HMB. We believe that this is the right thing to do.
The government must invest in our health infrastructure, improve working conditions for healthcare workers, and prioritize health in our national agenda. We have the talent, the knowledge, and the passion within our ranks to achieve great things”, he said.
The secretary of the Association, Dr Ifenkaronye Clement and other members of the Executive were also part of the briefing.
NMA Calls For Uniform Salary Structure To Improve Healthcare is first published on The Whistler Newspaper