Gom Mirian
The Joint Health Sector Unions Assembly (JOHESU/AHPA) of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) has issued a warning to the Nigerian government, stating that more than 25 per cent of healthcare practitioners in the country are likely to seek opportunities abroad if proactive measures are not implemented.
The union conveyed this message in a letter addressed to Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social development.
In addition to the warning, the union also threatened to initiate industrial action if the federal government proceeds with its plan to halt budgetary allocations to professional regulatory councils.
The letter, signed by the acting national secretary of JOHESU, Comrade Matthew Ajorutu, emphasised the need for immediate action to prevent a potential exodus of healthcare professionals.
Ajorutu highlighted the impact of the Budget Office’s directive, expressing concern that it would leave professional regulatory councils, including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), without government funding.
Ajorutu said, “The directive of the Budget Office initially affected all these Professional Regulatory Councils, including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). But in moves typical of some MDAs in the country, only the MDCN has been cleared to continue to enjoy government funding as proposed in the budget of N11 billion in the 2023 estimates.”
He cautioned against the adverse effects of such a decision, stressing that it could expose healthcare practitioners to unethical and unlawful practices, ultimately compromising the quality of healthcare services in Nigeria.
The union’s letter urged the government to intervene and reverse the directive to ensure that professional regulatory councils receive the necessary budgetary support. Failure to address this issue, the union warned, could lead to severe consequences for the healthcare sector and the consumers of health services in Nigeria.
