Posted on: Thu 25-02-2021

The attention of the National Leadership of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) has been drawn to the media war orchestrated by the Nigerian Medical Association and Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors using different propaganda machineries to cast aspersion and blackmail on other health care professionals especially those affiliated to our union and by extension, the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA).

While we are not joining issues with either of these groups or engaging in popularity contest, but for the avoidance of doubt, it is imperative to put up this rejoinder to correct some misleading information already in the public domain. Also, to let the relevant authorities in the country know that the healthcare sector in Nigeria needs to operate with global best practices. 

As a law abiding union that follows the rule of law and well informed about judicial processes, we will not discuss any matter that is currently before the court. Hence, the need to restrict ourselves to issues that are presently not before any court of law. It is pertinent to stress that NUAHP members and other health workers in JOHESU account for 95% of the workforce in the Nigeria’s public healthcare sector. In spite of this huge numerical strength, the medical practitioners through the Federal Ministry of Health had over the years sustained an agenda to marginalise, oppress and deny other health care professionals their legitimate rights gotten through collective bargain agreements and favourable judgement from courts of competent jurisdiction. 

The union overtime would have declared industrial actions due to these overbearing actions and manipulative influences of the medical practitioners, but had to consider public health interest and general wellbeing of the people especially in this pandemic era of coronavirus (COVID-19).

This rejoinder becomes necessary to avoid intra and inter-professional conflict in an already tensed and stressed healthcare system. For instance, the inclusion of other health care professionals already been regulated by councils established through the Act of Parliament in the proposed legislation for Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria is suspicious and capable of igniting crisis amongst concerned health workers hence, the need to delete every section in the proposed bill that interferes directly or indirectly with the functions or regulations of other health care professionals and or professions.

Everywhere across the world and in so many professions, professionals within the sector are allowed to practice their core area of specialisation and are also allowed the opportunity to bring their leadership prowess to bare in the system where they work.

In the Military, we have the Army, the Navy and the Air force. At no time has officers of the Army canvassed to be Chief of Air Staff or Chief of Naval Staff, nor the Air Force. Neither of the other force will want to head another force. An Air Force personnel, will always be the Chief of Air staff, likewise the Army and the Navy. None of them will claim that they must produce the Chief of Defence staff. Likewise, in the political arena, if political scientists should canvass for a legislation, that only political scientists would hold elective and appointed positions in public governance, then, it portends great danger to national development and good governance. 

The medical practitioners in Nigeria should stop the unlawful encroachment in the practice of other professions in the health sector. This unlawful practice had been perpetrated in the public and private health sectors for decades, and unabated. Even, in recent times, they have devised the use of the instrumentality of the National Assembly through seeking legislative manipulations of hitherto existing legislations on healthcare and other professional regulatory councils without respect for the rule of law, due process and international best practices (as contained/evidenced in some of the provisions of the proposed MDCN repeal and enactment bill 2020).

It is equally disheartening to note that some Chief executives of some tertiary hospitals (who are members of NMA) had continued to undermine the implementation of collectively bargained agreements reached with the government and court judgements in favour of other health care professionals / registered unions in the health sector. It is only in Nigeria’s Health Sector that registered trade unions collectively bargain for better conditions of service and the outcome are been challenged by a professional association (NMA) that is not recognized by law as a  union or a collective bargaining entity. We call on the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to call the NMA to order henceforth or stop every form of negotiations with this unregistered group. 

The union also observed with dismay the puerile argument of NMA that other health care professionals should not be allowed to train and award a first degree of Doctor of Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Medical laboratory sciences, Radiography, Optometry ( which is already in existence) e t c to other health professionals, when  the National University Commission (NUC) which is the agency that is saddled with this function had already evaluated and accredited such course curriculum and content and had adjudged it adequate for such an award in consonance with international best practice. Why should NMA and her cohorts stand against it? If not for her selfish, egocentric, discriminatory and oppressive posture in the health sector. It is time for every profession in the health sector to evolve and gravitate to an international acceptable standard. NO person or group of persons can stop it. We call on Nigerian government to invest in this direction. This will of course address the issue of medical tourism and it will also bring specialised and affordable health care services close to the door step of an average Nigerian.

In order to bring sanity and lasting harmonious working relations in the health sector, there is the need for government and stakeholders to take the following steps:

1. Federal Government should intervene to stop all forms of discriminations in the health sector
2. The Nigerian Medical Association and Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors should henceforth not be recognised as trade unions or deal with as bargaining entity, except they are registered as one; the government had indulged them over the years. They have no legal right or power to negotiate, embark on industrial actions and interfere in collective agreements entered into with registered unions in the health sector. They should be compelled to follow the rule of law in this regard. 
3. The office of the Minister of Health and chief executives of public health institutions in Nigeria, should not be the exclusive reserve of Medical Practitioners. A typical example is the appointment of Professor Eyitayo Lambo a non-medical practitioner during the Obasanjo’s administration. Under his watch, the health sector witnessed relative peaceful industrial atmosphere and steady growth where other health care professionals were equitably treated under an atmosphere of justice and fairness. 
4. All health care departments in public health institutions should be headed by the most senior health care professional in such departments. 
5. It is high time the NMA and her allies realized that the Medical/health team is a collaborative work, no profession is greater or more important than the other. Every team member contributes enormously for an effective and efficient health care service delivery to our clients/patients. Every member of the health team should realize that the earlier the toga of arrogance is dropped and mutual respect for one another is imbibed, the better for the entire system.       

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