Lagos – Prof. Wole Atoyebi, Registrar, National PostGraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to adequately fund the nation’s health sector, to guarantee effective healthcare for Nigerians.
Atoyebi made the plea in Lagos at the Annual General Meeting/Scientific Conference and Continuing Medical Education of the Medical Guild of Nigeria, Lagos State branch.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that theme of the conference is: “Beyond Public Medical Practice: Focus on the Retired Medical/Dental Practitioner.’’
He said that the nation’s health institutions were characterised with inadequate and inefficient financing, decayed infrastructure, maldistribution of health workforce and poor coordination.
According to him, doctors in public medical practice need to be well paid because their job stress is enormous, especially for the younger ones.
“There is no strict time schedule of work for most doctors, especially those in obstetrics, gynaecology, surgery and anaesthesia,’’ Atoyebi said.
He urged medical doctors to learn how to strike a balance between their jobs and personal lives, while still in service.
“Most doctors in the public service do not get to the peak of their careers until they are almost 50 years old.
“Most doctors take care of others and even accompany them on medical treatment abroad, but they do not undergo routine medical checkup themselves,’’ Atoyebi said.
In his remarks, Dr Biyi Kufo, the chairman of the guild, said that the conference theme was carefully chosen to reflect the current challenges facing the medical profession.
“Specifically, the condition of our members after spending most of their productive lives in the service is a source of great concern to those of us still in service.
“The daily reports of difficulties being faced by retired citizens, within and outside the medical profession, are no doubt a source of great concern for those whose who have not retired.
“Another source of worry is the number of people who take up contract appointments after retirement.
“It indicates the enormity of the challenge that our colleagues face when they retire,’’ Kufo said.
He urged the Lagos State Government to implement the corrected Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for medical workers in the state.
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Also speaking, Prof. Wole Alakija, the Provost, Lagos State College of Medicine, said that more than 80 per cent of doctors were not taking good care of their wellbeing, while in active service. (NAN)