The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has applauded the National Assembly on its move to amend the University Teaching Hospitals Act Cap U15 LFN, 2004, known as Decree 10 of 1985, saying the amendment would reduce frequent industrial crisis in the sector.
Speaking during the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union in Abuja, Tuesday, president of the union, Dr. Obinna C. Ogbonna, said such unfair labour practices continued to make the public health sector in Nigeria incapable of providing effective, accessible, and affordable healthcare services.
He said the new act, if signed into law, will ensure that health workers/professionals with competency in hospital administration and management are appointed to manage the hospitals nationwide.
He said: “The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals expressly commends the National Assembly, most especially the House of Representatives, for taking a bold step towards amending the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards etc) Act Cap U15 LFN, 2004 formerly known as Decree 10 of 1985. It was the promulgation of this Decree in 1985 that introduced dichotomy and discrimination into the health sector.
“These unfair practices have continued to make the public health sector in Nigeria incapable of providing effective, accessible, and affordable healthcare services. It is also evidently clear that the decree was responsible for the crashing of the Nigeria’s health sector from its enviable 55th position, now 187th out of 191 countries of the world by the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) ranking.
“We call on the National Assembly, especially House Committee on Health Institutions under the chairmanship of Honourable Pascal Obi, to expedite action on the report of the public hearing, its concurrent at the Senate and eventual passage for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari, for his assent.”If signed into law, the new act will ensure that health workers/professionals with competency in hospital administration and management are appointed to manage the hospitals nationwide.”
