Nasarawa NMA rejects govt directive to shutdown private facilities

 

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Nasarawa state chapter has rejected a directive by the state government to desist from private practice.

The government directed that they shut down their health facilities or risk losing their jobs.

The state chairman, Dr. Sabo Emmanuel, stated this during a press briefing at the end of an emergency executive meeting of the association in Lafia.

He said medical doctors on the payroll of the state government had never been found wanting for compromising their official duties as they engage in private practice according to the laid down rules guiding establishment and operating of private hospitals and clinics.

The NMA chairman stated that private practice by medical doctors in the state had contributed immensely in bridging the gap in the health sector which had gone a long way in meeting the increasing medical needs of the people over the years.

He called on the state government to concentrate on addressing issues bordering on welfare of doctors in the state, especially lack of promotions which had lingered on since 2010 and annual salary increments among others.

Dr. Sabo Emmanuel commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for being among the first governors to pay COVID- 19 hazard allowances to health workers, which according to him, had enhanced the fight against the pandemic.

He said as at August this year over 150 health workers in the state had been infected with COVID-19.

He however called on medical doctors to redouble their efforts in the provision of health care services to the people.

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