Fund health insurance with fuel subsidy saving, NMA urges FG

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has thrown her weight behind the removal of fuel subsidy but stressed that money saved as a result of the its implementation should be channeled to National Health Insurance Programme to grant Nigerians opportunity for universal health coverage.

The NMA President, Uche Ojinmeh said this on Sunday at the end of 63rd annual general meeting of the association in Jalingo, Taraba State capital.

He said channeling money saved from subsidy removal to such programme would reduce expenditure of ordinary citizens and make health services more affordable and available to all Nigerians.

He, however, said that the removal of subsidy should be done gradually in order not to create more hardship to Nigerians, adding that it will certainly come with harsh effect.

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“The Nigerian Medical Association wishes to call on federal government to put in place a proper programme to save Nigerians from harsh realities of increase in fuel prices as a result of subsidy removal,” the NMA president said.

He also called on federal government not betray the confidence the association reposed on it with regards to the review of consolidated salary of medical workers.

“We expect a circular on this in the next two weeks and we know it will come but however no one should take the simplicity of NMA as weakness,” he added.

He appealed to states that owed medical doctors salary arrears to offset them before leaving office, calling on government to take measures on security of lives and properties of the citizens.

Dr Ojinmeh said organs transplant remained a serious issue with strict guidelines and regulation across the globe.

He, therefore, reminded Nigerians who wanted to embark on organs transplant journeys abroad to find out such guidelines and regulations in order to avoid embarrassment to our nation.