President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed serious worry concerning the negative impact of the strike on the nation’s health sector.
The president, who was represented by Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, made the statement during the 58th general conference and delegates meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) yesterday in Abuja.
He said that while agitations for better conditions of service by healthcare professionals are and will continue to be a necessary and legitimate expression, medical personnel should show greater understanding with government and work together towards solving the problems and tension in the health sector.
Buhari stated that the nation’s healthcare sector had been troubled for a long time and one of the manifestations is the low spending in health infrastructure, adding that “the budget for the health sector over the years never reflected Nigeria’s huge earnings in the period between 2010-2015.
He said: “The problem with the healthcare sector includes poor funding, the problems in the North-East and the threat of the spread of diseases. The insurgency in the North-East brought the already troubled health sector to its knees.”
Buhari said that the implementation of the basic healthcare provision fund would commence soon in three pilot states of Abia, Niger and Osun states with plans to scale it up by 2019.
Meanwhile, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has said that the time has come to advance the Nigerian healthcare system beyond partisan politics and called for economic, social and development plans that would help reverse the health tourism being witnessed in the country.
Also, Senate President Bukola Saraki said that as soon as the 2018 Appropriation Bill is signed into law, the one percent basic healthcare provision fund would take effect.
He said the bill would be passed into law in the next few days.
