NMA seeks JOHESU members understanding on health bills amendment

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), to embrace dialogue on the planned amendment of five health bills.

The President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday.

“NMA wishes to invite JOHESU members to join forces with medical and dental practitioners to improve the health circumstances of our people, rather than threatening to go on strike for the wrong treasons at any slightest excuse.

“I wish to appeal to government and good spirited individuals to advise members of JOHESU and their cohorts on the issue.

“They should stop expressing their frustrations towards a very intelligent group and members of the noble profession of human medicine,” Ujah stated.

It was reported that members of the NMA and JOHESU have been at odds over plans by the National Assembly to amend five health bills.

“The NMA believes that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill is intended to further strengthen the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,” Ujah stated.

He noted that the amendment would regulate the medical and dental professions, to protect the public by ensuring that registered medical practitioners and dental surgeons were competent to practice safe, ethical and responsible medicine.

“We fully support the bill and call on members of the professions allied to medicine and dentistry and members of the public to support the bill for the advancement of quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria,” said Ujah.

The NMA chief criticized JOHESU members for “their penchant for blackmailing Nigerian doctors and government at the slightest opportunity,” saying that such blackmails should cease.

Ujah lamented that charlatans had been brazenly and openly referring to themselves as doctors, in spite of the existence of a laws against such, due what he described as the failure of law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities in the country.

On Feb. 1, the Senate held a public hearing on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill SB. 480 and four other Bills.

However, members of JOHESU are opposed to the amendment, a development that has generated bitter differences with their NMA counterparts.