NMA, NAGGMDP Urge Ondo State Government to Implement 100% Hazard Allowance for Medical Practitioners.

NMA, NAGGMDP Urge Ondo State Government to Implement 100% Hazard Allowance for Medical Practitioners.

In a concerted effort to curb brain drain within the healthcare sector and bolster the provision of quality medical services, the Ondo State Chapter Executive Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA SEC) and the Executive Council of the National Association Of General Government Medical And Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) have jointly called upon the Ondo State Government to expeditiously implement a 100% Hazard Allowance for their members.

Leadership representatives from NMA and NAGGMDP, headed by Dr. Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, the State Chairman of NMA, conveyed that the state government had previously agreed to disburse the hazard allowance and clear any arrears owed. Regrettably, these agreements have yet to be executed.

This vital appeal was articulated during a courtesy visit to the Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, by the leadership of NMA, NAGGMDP, the Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), and the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD). The visit took place at the official premises in Akure on Friday.

A press release signed by Dr. Oluwaseun Akinbohun-Sado, the state Publicity Secretary of NAGGMDP, underscores the gravity of the brain drain challenge within Ondo State's healthcare system.

Dr. Adeyemi-Osowe highlighted the impediments impacting efficient healthcare delivery in the state, chiefly centered around members' welfare. He then presented a comprehensive list of demands to the Acting Governor.

Foremost among these demands is the immediate implementation of a 100% Hazard Allowance, a commitment that the government had already assented to, including the settlement of pending arrears that have remained outstanding.

Furthermore, Dr. Adeyemi-Osowe emphasized the critical need for competitive employment prospects for doctors within Ondo State. He stressed that achieving pay parity with medical practitioners in Federal Institutions in neighboring states holds paramount importance.

The plea for the adoption of the 100% Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) aligning with the recently released June 2023 CONMESS Circular took center stage. The proposed implementation date of June 2023, deviating from the current payment of 92% based on the 2014 Circular, was strongly urged. The elevation of the entrance level from 12.3 to 13.2 was also highlighted as a key point.

During the engagement, Dr. Adeyemi-Osowe expressed gratitude for the ongoing infrastructural projects at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex (UNIMEDTHC) and the ORANGHIS health scheme, praising the State Government for these initiatives.

In response, Acting Governor Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa acknowledged the lucidity, specificity, and feasibility of the requests, reaffirming the government's commitment to taking requisite actions.

In pursuit of their objectives, the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and its affiliated bodies in the state intend to pursue a follow-up meeting with Prof. Faduyile, the Governor's Special Adviser on Health Matters, and other pertinent stakeholders.