As part of efforts to checkmate brain drain in the health sector and encourage quality services, the Nigerian Medical Association Ondo State Chapter Executive Committee (NMA SEC) and National Association Of General Government Medical And Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) Ondo State Chapter Executive Council, have called on the Ondo State Government to urgently implement a 100% Hazard Allowance for their members.
According to the NMA and NAGGMDP leadership led by the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, the government had already agreed to pay the hazard allowance, along with the payment of arrears as previously requested but it has not been implemented till date.
This formed part of the requested tabled before the State Acting Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa when the state leadership of the NMA, NAGGMDP, the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) as well as the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), paid him a courtesy visit in his office, Akure on Friday.
In a press statement signed by Dr. Oluwaseun Akinbohun-Sado, the state Publicity Secretary of NAGGMDP, the Medical Doctors’ delegation lamented and demanded steps to address the brain drain in the Health sector in Ondo State.
The statement reads, “The Chairman also highlighted the factors militating against effective delivery of health services in the State which bothered on the welfare of members, he then presented members’ list of demands to the Acting Governor.
“The first demand on the list was the prompt implementation of a 100% Hazard Allowance which the government had already agreed to, along with the payment of arrears as previously requested which till date had not been paid.
“The Chairman further stressed the importance of competitive employment opportunities in Ondo State for doctors, stating that comparable payment rates to that of Federal Institutions in neighbouring States were crucial.
“The need for the implementation of 100% Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) in line with the recently released June 2023 CONMESS Circular, with implementation date from June, 2023, was also highlighted as opposed to the current 92% payment based on the 2014 Circular. The entrance level from 12.3 to 13.2 was also emphasized.
“During the meeting, the NMA Chairman used the medium to express their deep satisfaction and commended the State Government for the ongoing infrastructural projects at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex (UNIMEDTHC) and the ORANGHIS health scheme.
While responding, the Acting Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa acknowledged that the requests were clear, unambiguous and feasible, adding that government would take necessary actions.
The leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and its affiliates in the state would follow up on their demands by meeting with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Prof. Faduyile and other stakeholders.
