The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has described the sacking of resident doctors by the Federal Government as embarrassing.
The group said on Wednesday that the sack of the striking resident doctors was even more demoralizing at a time the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was trying to mediate between the two parties to end the industrial action.
The association said this at the end of its Extra-ordinary National Executive Council(NEC) meeting held in Abuja.
The President of MDCAN, Prof. Sani Balarabe Garko, told newsmen at a press conference to present the communique of the extra-ordinary meeting that sacking the doctors while highly placed individual in the person of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara was mediating has dashed the hopes of those looking forward to quick resolutions.
He also described as unacceptable a situation where only 18 out of over 50 medical centers were being paid their allowances, blaming the Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors for the anomaly.
The Association which described as sad the continuous disruption of service in the hospitals as a result of the avoidable strike embarked upon the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at a period Nigerians needs health services the most.
It described as unaccepted and condemnable the refusal of some CMDs/MDs to pay accrued allowances to medical doctors, reminding them that it is their responsibility to ensure industrial harmony in their various centres so that the ordinary Nigerians do not suffer harm from service disruption.
It therefore propose a single tenure for CMDs/MDs as is done in the universities for Vice Chancellors.
According to the communique signed by Garko, and Secretary General, Dr. Abdulkadir Rafindadi, MDCAN the group noted that it was determined to do all within its powers to push forward an amicable resolution of the impasse.
MDCAN also rejected the imposition of Ph.D on her members as a prerequisite for teaching medical students and career progression in the university system.
It rejected attempt by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the National Universities Commission to harmmonise the Ph.D and Fellowship programmes.
It noted that the Fellowship programme is a professional training that is built on apprenticeship and clinical skills acquisition in addition to academic component whereas a Ph.D is purely academic and does not adequately prepare or equip one with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to train medical students, postgraduate doctors and treat patients.
It also frown at attempt by some authorities in Nigerian universities to discredit the honour of medical lecturers by falsely accusing them of receiving double salaries and embarrassing them by petitioning the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
According to MDCAN “The practice of paying medical lecturers salaries in the universities and honorarium for work done in the teaching hospitals is enshrined in the regulations of the civil service of Nigeria”.
It also resolved that the consolidated health salary structure ( CONHESS) should be applicable only to staff with health related qualification in Federal and State health facilities in the country. This, it said would go a long way in reducing personnel cost especially at this period crippling economic downturn.
It resolved that the Yayale Ahmed Presidential Committee report on Industrial Harmony in the health sector in Nigeria be speedily implemented so as to restore the much desired industrial peace in the health system for the benefit of patients.
