Lagos Nigeria Medical Association Opposes Appointment of Directors In Hospitals.,

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Lagos State Chapter on Sunday faulted the appointment of Directors, saying it distorts the chain of command in the hospitals.

The NMA made this known at a press conference held in Lagos to present its stand on the resolutions of its National Officers' Committee which was submitted to the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation last week.

Speaking to newsmen, the state chairman of the association, Dr. Francis Faduyile said, the position of Directors in hospitals induces anarchy and exposes the patient to conflicting treatment and management directives with attendant negative consequences.

Faduyili said, "the post of Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC) has been circularized and operational. Rather than abolish it, the NMA hereby demands that four DCMACs for teaching hospitals and three for the Federal Medical Centres be appointed forthwith to assist the CMACs whose statutory responsibilities are too heavy for any single individual to handle.

"Directors in other government agencies are supported by several Deputy Directors, why not the CMAC who is also a Director? Such a DCMAC must have same qualifications as the CMAC."

The association also demands that,  grade level 12 (CONMESS 2) in the health sector must be skipped for medical doctors.

He also said, "The title “consultant" in a hospital setting describes the relationship between the Specialist Medical Doctor and his patient. It will be a source of confusion if the title is applied to any other health worker who statutorily does not own patient. NMA therefore declares with unmitigated emphasis that if “non-doctor consultants” are appointed, it will lead to chaos and anarchy in the health sector. This should not happen," he said.

The NMA also demands for immediate implementation of the January 3rd, 2014 circular and the immediate appointment of the Surgeon General of the Federation.

The chairman said, "Clinical duty allowance for Honorary Consultants should be increased by 90per cent of CONMESS.

"Adjust the specialist allowance as contained in the 2009 collective bargaining agreement. Additionally, all doctors on CONMESS 3 and above MUST be paid specialist allowance or its equivalent that is not less than 50per cent higher than what is paid to other health workers."

He however said, "The NMA henceforth shall not accept the continued violation of any of the terms of the 2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is exemplified by the payment of Medical Physicists and Optometrists with OD (who are on CONHESS) call duty allowance using the CONMESS Circular. Similarly, the phrase “Ministries, Departments and Agencies” (MDA) in the said agreement should replace “Federal Ministry of Health and other Federal Health Institutions” as contained in the 2009 CONMESS Circular.

"In the light of the fore-going therefore, the NMA hereby gives government 14 days to meet all her demands as stated above or have her members called out for a resumption of the total and indefinite withdrawal of service suspended on 5th January 2014."

He added that,  "the NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted.

"We have to take this action in order to save the health care delivery system from anarchy that is palpably imminent.

"We hereby appeal to all Nigerians for their understanding and to press on Government to meet with our demands to avoid the strike which is scheduled to start on the 1st of July 2014 from 00.10 hours GMT."