The Nigerian Medical Association, Federal Capital Territory Administration, has urged the National Assembly to help address doctors’ welfare.
Chairman of NMA-FCT, Emeka Ayogu, made the appeal during a courtesy, stating that inadequate welfare package was one of the key reasons doctors are migrating to other countries in search of better opportunities.
Ayogu explained that doctors were leaving the country in large numbers due to poor working conditions, noting that it was the reason behind the association seeking National Assembly’s attention.
9News Nigeria reports that some of his words were; “We are here to pay a courtesy visit to our eminent senior colleague in the profession, a lawmaker who is passionate about the welfare of doctors, and to see how we can improve the conditions of service for our members.
“The honourable has so many bills on his table, all pushing for the welfare of doctors, so we are here to appreciate him for championing our collective cause,” Ayogu said.
The NMA-FCT Chairman also lamented that the Japa syndrome had become alarming, stressing that the government must take urgent measures to improve doctors’ welfare.
According to him, there is need to provide more incentives for healthcare workers in general, and doctors in particular, in order to curb brain drain in the health sector, just as he revealed that some of their members had gone on strike a few weeks ago due to harsh working conditions.
He, therefore, called for collaboration between lawmakers and other stakeholders to address the situation, as he urged lawmakers to advocate for improved remuneration and better welfare packages for doctors practising in the FCT, so as to make the profession more attractive.
According to him, if doctors receive their entitlements as expected, it will help reduce the rate at which they leave the country.
