TEAM spirit is destroyed. the patient cannot get the best care, collaborative research would be minimal or impossible, incessant strikes will be the order of the day, revenue generation would drop, health indices would be poor and medical tourism would be pronounced and the overall economy of the nation would be adversely affected.

The Surgeon-General is the head of military medical services in the USA, Canada and UK and a few other nations. The head may be a nurse, pharmacist, medical practitioner or any other medical professional in the armed forces. In Nigeria, the head of medical corps is designated ‘Director’ At the Federal Ministry of Health, we have Director of Public Health, Director of Hospital services etc.

All these directors are equivalent to Surgeon- General. Therefore, Nigeria does not need a Surgeon General since we already have its equivalent performing same duties. The Nigerian medical practitioners propose to have Surgeon General who shall be exclusively appointed from her members only so that they can use the position to oppress other health professionals.

The sixth Senate once threw out the bill on Surgeon General due to its lack of support. In 2007, the matter was discussed again by the inter-Agency committee on the grievances of NMA. The Surgeon General was overwhelmingly condemned. Again, NMA presented it to a-38-member Presidential Committee headed by justice Abdullahi Bello Gusau between August 2010 and November 2011. It was flatly defeated.

One is however surprised that Mr. President could give approval without seeking the opinion of other stakeholders other than medics. We appeal to Mr. President to withdraw his approval in the interest of industrial peace.

The Presidency should remove the current Minister of Health and appoint two new persons – one from the NMA and the other from JOHESU/Assembly of Health Professionals.  Restructure the the Federal Ministry of Health  and Allied Health professional groups to be represented at the Directorate level.  Allow equitable representation of major professional groups on the Boards of Management of each Hospital.

Make the post of CEO of Hospital open to any competent and qualified health professionals without skewing it toward a particular profession. Promote all unduly stagnated health professionals to Directors cadre.