Boma Achenimie 
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has described the Federal Government’s plan to stop funding the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria by 2024 as ill-conceived and could lead to disaster.
The Federal Government had, through a circular from the Budget Office, dated June 26, 2023, announced its decision to stop funding the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and other notable professional bodies which include MDCN, effective from January 1, 2024.
The National President of the association, Uche Ojinmah, made this known in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital during a press conference as part of activities marking 2023 NMA Physician’s Week, tagged: “This Is Our Chance: To Get It Right In The Health Sector.”
Ojinmah, whose prepared speech was read by the state Chairman of NMA, Wale Lasisi, said, “The plan to stop funding of MDCN from next year to us is ill-conceived and can only lead to disaster. The job of MDCN which is regulation of medical and dental practice is so important that funding by the government is appropriate.
“If we stop funding the MDCN, I wonder who we want to do it? Probably, the doctors and dentists will take over funding a body that regulates and may punish them if necessary. Let us remember that he that pays the piper may dictate the tune.”
He, therefore, called on the government to continue to fund MDCN in the interest of the health and well-being of the citizenry.
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The president, who had earlier sounded a note of warning to all and sundry to never try to run Nigerian doctors down in any way, further urged them to always follow due process if aggrieved or in discharging their responsibilities.
“If anyone has any case against a doctor practicing in Nigeria, it should channel such to the Registrar of MDCN for appropriate response being the body statutorily saddled with such responsibility.
“The NMA hereby expresses her displeasure at the recent media trial of some healthcare workers by the Minister of Women Affairs. We believe that such behaviour is infra dig for one that occupies such a lofty office. The NMA is watching closely all processes and proceedings as it concerns the case in the FCT and shall respond appropriately.
“We also use this opportunity to express our condolences to the relatives of the deceased and call on our security agencies to do their job by fishing out the culprits responsible for her death,” he stated.
The association, however, used the occasion to call on the Oyo State Government to immediately commence the payment of the recently reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and Consolidated Health Salary Structure with their arrears and also the accouterment allówance for medical doctors and dentists.
It also appealed to the state government to approve and immediately implement the upward review of hazard allowances for state doctors and other healthcare workers as already applicable in most states in the region.
