It is not uncommon knowledge among Nigerians to the lingering rivalry between medical doctors and other health workers in government health institutions. This rivalry has untoward effect in the health sector for many decades with no immediate end in sight. The government has, in all these years, failed to do the needful in terms of job description. The hospital is probably the only place an employee start to work without guide, thus you find people dabbling in events way out their jurisdictional competence. This of course is only happening in public health institutions notoriously known for indiscipline and impunity. The major problems in the sector are leadership tussles and salary.  

 

The rivalry is suppose to be confined within the perimeter of the unions representing the various health workers with the government being an impartial referee. However, a recent news commentary titled "Ensuring harmonious relationship among professionals in the health sector" aired by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) has mutated that neutrality to partisanship. The said commentary was written by Azizat Sani and presented by Aldul Fatah Otori on Monday 29/02/2016 after the 4pm network news. 

 

In those days the DG of the radio station would have queried the news editor and director for sloppy oversight functions.  The commentary raised so many disturbing and inaccurate assertions concerning the health sector in Nigeria and the world in general. 

 

The misrepresentations include;  

1. Alleged discriminations and marginalizations of other health workers in terms of salaries and allowances, heading of ministries of health and heading of specialist hospitals without requisite evidence.  

2. Implied that nurses usually address emergency medical conditions first in the hospitals before the arrival of doctors in western and European countries with no reference.  

3. That government hospitals did not thrive well under doctors with no single validated study.  

4. Implied that government hospitals can only function effectively and efficiently when retired non-doctor health workers are reengage to head them with no mention of any supporting evidence.  

 

One wonders whether this is the view of this disciplined government on serious health related issues otherwise one of its once respected public relation agencies has been compromised. 

 

In this age of evidence and universal internet availability, it is appalling to see a government agency resorting to voodoo journalism. The government needs to do the needful and bring back sanity in to the health sector. 

 

The first step towards this is to employ an independent international or impartial local body to interact with the sector with a view of job evaluation and descriptions. MDAs responsible for medical regulation must wake up to their responsibilities by enforcing existing laws or promoting progressive policy directions. 

 

I am aware of budget padding, do we also have news padding as well? 

Ibrahim Toli 

Department of Medicine, 

ABUTH Zaria. 

[email protected]