Medical practitioners under the auspices of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), have frowned at the poorly regulated and weak healthcare system in the country.
The lamentation followed a video making the rounds on social media, depicting complications from a surgery purportedly carried out at a govemment health facility recently.
The Kaduna state branch of the association noted that successive govermments of Kaduna State have failed to take appropriate action on similar allegations of quackery and negligence perpetuated by health professionals in both public and private health facilities in the State.
In a text made available to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend during a press conference, the Chairman of the association, Dr. Madaki David Sheyin said that the regulatory role of Govermment has been weak, thereby allowing health professionals to carry out procedures well beyond the scope of their training and certification.
Sheyin noted that there has been little or no punishment meted on erring personnel and facilities to serve as deterrent to others by the government.
Meanwhile, NMA has advised government and other stakeholders at all levels to intensify sensitization and education of the general public on patient’s right and the different composition of the health personnel in both private and public facilities.
The association has equally recommended that the Ministry of Health should immediately issue a statewide circular clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of all cadres of Health Workers in the State and their boundaries with a sten warning to sanction those found wanting.
In its eight points recommendations, NMA opined that govemment should immediately recruit Human Resource for Health in adequate numbers and in the right skill mix, and to implement the 2023 CONMESS Salary Scale to help attract the required number needed in the right skill mix.
This is just as the association further recommended that state and local Governments should prioritize the health and well-being of all citizens by ensuring a strong and robust healthcare system in the country.
It noted that some doctors have in one way or the other, knowingly or unknowingly enhanced and emboldened medic quacks, thereby causing serious harm and injury to the unsuspecting general public.