From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Doctors in the country have pleaded with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, subsidize electricity tariff for public hospitals and educational institutions to prevent them from total collapse.
President of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) Prof. Mohammad Aminu said that the present electricity Tariff hike is not sustainable and could cripple operations of health and educational institutions and help to exacerbate brain drain.
Prof. Aminu made the appeal while leading members of the National Executive Council (NEC) on a courtesy visit to Tinubu in Abuja in continuation of their advocacy visits to critical stakeholders as regard to the welfare of its members and the challenges bedeviling health sector.
MDCAN in a statement issued in Jos by its publicity secretary Dr Godwin Adgidzi also implored the Federal Government to convene a healthcare and education summit as well as conduct training and re-training for Medical doctors within Nigeria and abroad to keep them abreast with global best practices.
The statement quoted the President of MDCAN as also urging the President to intervene in the harmonization of payment with CONMESS Salary structure for consultants, increase in the retirement age for Hospital Consultants to 70 years and as a matter of fact review salary structure and allowances among other demands.
Minister of Health and Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate Tinubu who represented the President assured the doctors that he would convey their message to Mr. President for prompt action.
According to the Minister, the President has prioritized health sector as some of their concerns were already being addressed.
He urged the association to see the Ministry of Health as a worthy partner in progress for the over all development and progress of the sector.
The Minister further noted that he is confident that the President will address some of the issues raised within the limits of Presidential power.
The statement named other officials who were present during the courtesy visit to include the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms Kachollom Daju, the Director, Hospital Services, Dr Jimoh Salaudeen and Director, Human Resource Management Ms Tetshoma T Dafeta, among others.