The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has called for increased funding of health institutions to curb medical tourism abroad.
Prof. Ngim Ngim, the National President of MDCAN, made the call in a communiqué at the end of the National Executive Council Meeting of the association in Awka on Monday.
Ngim said the major challenge facing the nation’s health sector was the absence of adequate medical facilities and quality training of practitioners.
The president called for the establishment of a medical university in the six geo-political zones of the country to enhance capacity for undergraduate medical training and allied courses.
“This will further increase the doctor population ratio and impact positively on healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
“The MDCAN is ready to liaise with relevant agencies of government to work out the details of its implementation.”
Ngim urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to contain the security challenges, including herdsmen/farmers clash, cultism and kidnapping, among others.
Declaring the meeting open, Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Josephat Akabuike, commended the association for their contribution in saving lives.
Obiano, who pledged his support to the association’s programmes, called for improved delivery of healthcare in the country saying that his administration had improved on health facilities, mostly in rural areas.
Earlier in a lecture, Prof. Oluwabunmi Olaopa urged members of MDCAN and the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to uphold the ethics of the profession.
Olaopa, the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, advised medical practitioners against negligence, adding that they should counsel their patients properly before carrying out their responsibilities.
Olaopa spoke on the topic “Medical Negligence: the role of consultants in Stemming the Tide”.
In another lecture titled “The Nigerian Doctor: His Financial Quagmire and the Efficiency Question”, Dr Nosa Orhue, said medical consultants were not properly remunerated in the country.
Orhue called on the Federal Government to improve the welfare package for medical practitioners to ensure their loyalty and dedication to international best practices.
In his speech, the state Chairman of NMA, Dr Jude Emejulu, stressed the need for the Federal Government to accelerate action towards the passage of the Tertiary Hospital Development Fund Bill.
Emejulu said it would go a long way in improving facilities in hospitals, enhance the nation’s healthcare delivery system, curb brain drain as well as medical tourism.
Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu, Enugu State Chairman of MDCAN, explained that the meeting also discussed ways of managing evolving diseases such as Lassa Fever in the country. (NAN)
