Nigeria loses over N250 billion annually to medical tourism due to poor quality tertiary education and obsolete equipment in hospitals.
The point was made by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), which says it is “poised to eradicate measles from our country. We have kicked out polio and Ebola.
“Everybody should join hands with the NMA to achieve this. Therefore, our Physicians Week in October shall focus on measles.”
A communique issued by the NMA after a meeting in Ilorin urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a medical doctor as health minister because “doctors who take care of the sick must be accorded priority in the scheme of things.”
The communique, signed by NMA President, Kayode Obembe, and Secretary General, Adewunmi Alayaki, expressed full support for universal health coverage.
This has been the focus of the NMA national officers’ committee (NOC), it said, and “we believe the instrument of the full implementation is through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“We are delighted that the National Health Act made provision for getting one per cent consolidated revenue fund through the NHIS while the other 50 per cent goes to the primary health care.”
It reiterated its clamour for the post of surgeon general which is paramount in the health system, citing the similar posts of attorney general of the federation, accountant general of the federation, surveyor general, and auditor general.
“The NMA is completely opposed to giving out our girls in marriage before the age of 18 years because before that age, the bony system has not fully developed.
“Scientifically, this practice should be condemned, the birth canal will be very narrow for the head of the baby to pass through during labour which can lead to the condition called Vesico Virginal Fistula (VVF).
“We appeal to all men of good will to impress on our government and policy makers to rescue our female children from this miserable life and ultimate disaster.”
It appealed to the police to cooperate with the NMA in ensuring that no regulatory body apart from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) interrupts doctors in their legitimate vocation of saving lives.