The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has said that attempts by government to reconcile the demands of various groups in the health sector is jeopardising the health sector.

MDCAN, in a statement signed by its President Steve Oluwole, blamed government agencies for what he called “overly conciliatory and politicisation of JOHESU demands”, saying that “have thrown the Health Team into bottomless pit of anarchy.”

The statement said that only eight of Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) members in University College Hospital, Ibadan could benefit from the circular that gave directive that JOHESU can attain the level of being called consultants.

It would be recalled that on October 21, 2014, the Federal Ministry of Health in a circular titled: “Compliance with the judgement of the National Industrial Court (NICN) on the appointment of non medical officers as consultant/payment of specialists allowance”, with Reference number C.5516/I/T/152 issued by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Linus Awute, directed all Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors to withdraw  the appointments of all health workers  appointed as consultants.

MDCAN said: “JOHESU’s interpretation of circular C.5516/I/T/152 of the Federal Ministry of Health, dated 21 October, 2014, is fictional. All members of JOHESU have not been granted the wishful consultant positions, but only the eight positions in UCH, Ibadan are expected to subsist without application to any other institution in the country.

According to the statement:  “In 2010, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, appointed eight nurses as consultants contrary to the scheme of service of the Federal Ministry of Health. The Minister of Health ordered reversal of the illegal appointments. The NIC judgement, which followed a lawsuit, ordered re-instatement of the eight nurses.

“JOHESU’s drive and goal are, of course, not designed to improve health care delivery in Nigeria, but to enhance financial gain and achieve contrived status within the Health Team for their members.”