The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) has appealed to the federal and state governments to beef up security around medical facilities to avert the kidnapping of medics.
Dr Sofiri Peterside JNR, National President of NAGGMDP, made the appeal while addressing journalists shortly after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association on Sunday in Akwanga Local Government Area (LGA), Nasarawa State.
He also called for an upward review of hazard allowances of doctors, call duty allowances and upgrading of medical facilities to curtail medical tourism.
He said, “Beef up security around medical facilities to avert the incessant kidnapping of medical personnel across the country.”
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He lamented that the shortage of doctors is putting so much pressure on the few ones who have decided to stay and work in the country despite the bad working conditions.
He said in Nigeria, one doctor attends to more than 20, 000 people, far higher than the standard of 1:600 ratio set by the World Health Organisation.
He said, “The government at all levels must implement a new minimum wage without further delay to cushion the effects of the hardship that is being faced due to the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.”
He, however, urged the government at all levels to domesticate the health insurance scheme to reduce the effect of hardship being faced by residents in their respective states.