NMA Tells FG to Declare State of Emergency on Health

The Nigerian Medical Association has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on health with a view to addressing the sector’s problems to make it more attractive to professionals.

The NMA Ekiti State Branch also called for the allocation of at least 15 per cent of the national budget to health as stipulated in the Abuja Declaration, saying such “will be an initial step to show commitment to the growth of the health sector on the part of all tiers of government”.

These were contained in the communique at the end of the 26th Annual General Meeting of NMA Ekiti state chapter.

In the communique signed by NMA State Chairman, Dr. Babatunde Rosiji, and Secretary, Dr. Moses Dada, the doctors charged President Bola Tinubu not to hesitate to take tough decisions to help him “jumpstart the ailing health sector”.

The NMA stated that if nothing deliberate is done to rescue the health sector, native doctors will soon start running Nigerian hospitals.

The NMA further called on the Federal Government to urgently address the rising cost of drugs and medical consumables to prevent the cost of health services from becoming so prohibitive to the point of driving patients away from hospitals.

It also noted that a efforts must be made to ensure universal coverage of citizens under the National Health Insurance Act, NHIA.