Greetings from the National President, NOC
and delegates to the just concluded EDM.
The EDM of the Nigerian Medical
Association took place on Saturday 26th
July, 2014 at Pauliham hotel, Gwarimpa,
Abuja. On the agenda was the update on
NMA's open letter to the government/
minimum demands.
The meeting was well attended by all states
and FCT delegates, with appology from
Bornu state due to the inability of the
delegates to get a flight from Maiduguri, 2
past presidents, viz; Dr. Stephen
KITCHENER, Dr. Idris OMEDE Immediate past
Sec.
Gen. Dr. Pemu.
The meeting lasted over 12 hours with the
house going on a 4hr recess for delegates
to put heads together for decisions to be
made on the way forward. Prior the recess,
all state chairmen spoke for and against
whether the strike should be suspended or
not after the president read his opening/
welcome address.
The welcome address was tagged;
"RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN
PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS"
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
This culminated in the open letter to the
Secretary to the Government of the
federation (SGF) on 11th June, 2014.
Twenty four (24) point demands were
itemised to be looked into by the
Government. This paper is meant to report
on the
progress so far and chart the way forward:
1. Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory
Committee (DCMAC). The situation update
now is that the position has been restored
and
circular issued to the effect. The conclusion
of this circular is unambiguously clear: "THE
ESTABLISHED POSITION WILL
CONTINUE TO BE FILLED PENDING THE
OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
COMMITTEE DELIBERATIONS" HMH/
ABJ/155/v
¡¡¡/3484.
2. On appointment of Directors, it was
agreed that the Teaching Hospital Act
should not be violated; so status quo
remains.
3. Skipping: The current status now is that
'Government has no objection to Doctors
skipping on CONMESS 3, the modalities of
its implementation will be submitted to
NOC/negotiating team of NMA within 6
weeks, 4 weeks gone already, so in 2 weeks
time
the modalities of implementation will be
made available to NOC/negotiating team.
4. Consultant: The circular on this has made
it categorically clear that; "THE
DESIGNATION OF CONSULTANT SHOULD
ONLY BE
USED FOR PERSONNEL WITH
QUALIFICATIONS REGISTERABLE WITH
MEDICAL AND DENTAL COUNCIL OF
NIGERIA" MH/
PM"138/Vol.111/85, 18th July, 2014.
5. Relativity: The update on this is that the
adjustment in salary was not factored into
2014 budget. The Government position
isthat this will be factored into the 2015
budget and will take effect from January
2014. A sum for 2 months arrears is to be
released within 7 working days available as
"index of commitment". There is no pool of
funds upon which to draw supplementary
budget; so say the budget office.
The MOU is as follows: "IMPLEMENTATION
AND PAYMENT OF RELATIVITY ARREARS
ARISING FROM THE JANUARY 3, 2014
CIRCULARS, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RELATIVITY
ARREARS TOOK EFFECT FROM JANUARY
2014. FURTHERMORE, THE 2 MONTHS
ARREARS (JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2014)
OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE
PAID WITHIN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS
WITH EFFECTIVE FROM WEDNESDAY, JULY
30 , 2014.
IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE
BALANCE OF TEN (10) MONTHS ARREARS
SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE 2015
APPROPRIATION ACT AND PAID IN LUMP
SUM".
6. The National Health Bill has been passed,
currently undergoing harmonisation by the
two legislative houses for onward
passage to the presidency for accent.
7. Surgeon General of the Federation has
been described as "desirable" and should be
pursued to the legislature. The NMA has
prepared a position paper on the issue. It is
also in the pipeline that NMA should
establish a 'legislative' desk in the National
Assembly.
8."THE STEP FOR HOUSE OFFICERS SHALL
BE ADDRESSED TO THE EQUIVALENT OF
CONHESS 9, STEP 4 AND MEDICAL
OFFICER/REGISTRAR TO CONMESS 2 STEP
3 AS WAS DONE FOR OTHER HEALTH
WORKERS AT THEIR ENTRY POINT" the
circular to this effect has been received from
the office of the Head of Service.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
9. Clinical allowance,
10. Specialist allowance,
11. Hazard allowance,
The procedure for negotiation for the above
3 to be followed up with the Federal Ministry
of Health. NMA has submitted the
names of her negotiating team.
12. The circular on rural posting, teaching,
and other allowances has been released
SWC/S/04/S176/T/73, of July, 2014.
13. Withdrawal of CBN circular on the
importation of in vitro dianostics- Federal
Ministry of Health was given a deadline (1
month) to write the CBN on the issue and
copy NMA. NMA team also honoured an
invitation from CBN, where they promised to
take action on our demand. Recently, we
also visited NAFDAC where the DG told us
about his plan to visit the CBN.
The letter to the CBN has been written by
the Federal Ministry of Health and NMA has
been copied -ref MH/PA/138/Vol 111/81.
14. Circular on retirement age: Report
already completed by the 12 man committee
and to be made available within 2 weeks
(follow up is necessary). The committee is
being hosted by Delta State Government.
15. On Residency Training Programme:
template has been released; "THE PURPOSE
OF THIS LETTER IS TO FORWARD THE
TEMPLATE FOR USE AT YOUR END AS
GUIDE IN RESIDENCY TRAINING. THIS
DIRECTIVE IS IN TANDEM WITH POLICY AS
STIPULATED IN THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC
HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND IN
CONSONANCE WITH NATIONAL VISION".
Ref.
No. C2262/38 18th July, 2014.
16. All outstanding claims pertaining to
doctors in FMC Owerri have been paid.
17. Doctors have assured Government of our
readiness to cope with the challenges
inherent in the progress of reintegration of
members back into IPPIS platform. The
Government on her part has indicated the
willingness to commence immediately.
18. That circular that guarantees the right of
house officers to be members of lawful
associations has been released.. "HOUSE
OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED
FROM JOINING ANY ASSOCIATION THAT
ARE RECOGNISED BY LAW". Ref. No.
C2262T/264, 18th July, 2014.
19. Physical assault on Doctors by other
health workers - All criminal actions should
be reported specifically and handled
according to the provisions of the Public
Service Rules (PSR).
20. Incomplete payment of salaries of
doctors: Action to be taken by the
permanent Secretary, FMOH and the Director
of Human
Resources and they are to report back to the
government/NMA team at the next meeting.
21. Universal applicability; the state/Local
Governments can be reached through
persuasion, National Council on
Establishment
matters, National Economic Council. Any of
these channels shall be explored. The NMA
National will always rally support for
states in the implementation of the circulars.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com
22. On Health Trust Fund, the NMA earlier
proposal has been re activated. "HEALTH
AND HOSPITALS DEVELOPMENT
INTERVENTION FUND" other interested
partners are to join the programme.
23. The position of CMD remains sacrosanct
and has not been compromised:
"THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR IT'S
AGENCIES HAVE NO PLAN TO REPEAL THE
TEACHING HOSPITALS ACT, BUT NMA MUST
WATCH OUT FOR A PRIVATE BILL".
24. On the continued violation of the terms
of the 2009 collective bargaining agreement,
it was decided that: "A LETTER
DIRECTING THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF CONMESS AND CONHESS
CIRCULAR BE SENT TO ALL CMD's AND
MEDICAL DIRECTORS". This is to be
followed up by the Government/NMA team
on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
In conclusion, NMA circular on minimum
end point says; "THE ISSUANCE OF
CIRCULARS ON THESE END POINTS FOR
RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN
PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS
WILL END THE STRIKE".
It is hereby noted that all the 24 point
demands have received positive responses,
and circulars have been issued as
appropriate.
In summary, these demands are classified
into 3 categories for action, viz; immediate,
middle, and long term.
Items 1,2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
and 23 are under immediate action with
positive response from government.
Items 3, 8, 13, 14 and 24 are classified
under middle term receiving actions from
government to be followed up by the NOC
and
the negotiating
team.www.medicalworldnigeria.com
Items 7, 9, 10, 11, 21, and 22 are classified
under long term, also receiving attention
with close follow up by the NOC.
www.medicalworldnigeria.com/2014/07/situation-report-on-the-national-medical-association-emergency-delegates-meeting

Hope FG will move for a conclusion of the negotiations and implementation asap.

You dont want to know what will happen next!

joshuapharm: You dont want to know what will happen next!

As long as they implement the above asap, no problem.

Let's see hw it goes. . . .

Samgreguc: Let's see hw it goes. . . .

They will eventually approve and implement the remaining.

Kcinho:
They will eventually approve and implement the remaining.

ok

mr minister call both nma and johesu togther and solve this problem once and for all we are tired of strike today nma tomorrow johesu

eejo: mr minister call both nma and johesu togther and solve this problem once and for all we are tired of strike today nma tomorrow johesu

I doubt if that will solve the problem. There is too much hatred already.

The government isn't too smart though. I expected a round table discussion of reps from NMA, JOHESU and various stake holders in the government. They know what is likely to happen after meeting the demands of NMA and they still decide to tow that line. Hope they have contigency plans though cuz its the patients that will still suffer..

drered: The government isn't too smart though. I expected a round table discussion of reps from NMA, JOHESU and various stake holders in the government. They know what is likely to happen after meeting the demands of NMA and they still decide to tow that line. Hope they have contigency plans though cuz its the patients that will still suffer..

I think that has already been done

[img]http://www.?aff=391[/img] [img]http:///?k_id=utibeokodi[/img]
Okay I have heard

NA WA OH. another strike is imminent JOHESU. season 2 round 2

What do I read all of that with? OP?

Good one on the part of the government, rather than issuing empty threats. So is the NMA calling off or what? na d koko bidat not dis long story!

Nigeria strongly need this We need this every body need this click on this link to see for yourself https://www.nairaland.com/1834606/1st-security-social-app-need

Instead of looking for ways to help prevent spread of Ebola, these fools still on strike na den mate dey die for Liberia and Sierra Leone doing helpless service, these ones wan hammer ...God is watching!

With this alone..the strike wouldn't last another week.

Let them just call off this strike abeg!

abeg make una call off d strike o. All dis noise of ebola is too much

Ok

Public sympathy employed by JOHESU seems to be failing.
Anyway, I hope d govt responds before d week runs out so dt doctors can have time to meet again this week, suspend d strike nd begins work next Monday.

All d NMA desires now is just a circular from d govt to attest to what has been earlier agreed on btw d two parties, I hope d FG won't come out denying any of these else problem escalates..
Govt and Management boards of hospitals also need to enact a law forbidding associations nd unions from locking up hospital properties nd running away wt d keys as d JOHESUites do when going on industrial actions.
If Johesu is going on strike, do it as d doctors do theirs ie take only ur personal belongings, handover d hospital properties to workers still on active duty and leave d hospital.

heykims: Public sympathy employed by JOHESU seems to be failing.

It is alleged that doctors went away with the patients folder in UPTH so the nurses and others could not administer care.

My colleague who had just been operated by doctors had to be discharged home. When next you doctors are going on strike do well and leave the folders - it is also public property.

otokx:

It is alleged that doctors went away with the patients folder in UPTH so the nurses and others could not administer care.

My colleague who had just been operated by doctors had to be discharged home. When next you doctors are going on strike do well and leave the folders - it is also public property.

This is a blatant lie from d pit of hell, even if it really happened, I'm pretty sure it never would be intentional. What care wud d nurses even give if not to follow d orders of d same doctor documented in d folder..
Besides, d folder is mostly likely within d hospital inadvertently dropped somewhere by d doctor maybe after being taken for morning review, grand round etc.
Why would he take d folder away to deny a patient he operated on further treatment, nd if he wants to, it is very simple to do, he just wud discharge nd dts all. But of course u won't want to discharge a patient u just operated on.

JO-HATES-US Oya get ready to release your own circular for immediate strike action. FG is either too stupid to realise that will be next thing or they've conveniently chosen to let the rigmarole continue. You dont need to be a genius to realise a round table discussion is the way out. Meanwhile, doctors are making a hell of money in their private hospitals, JOHATESUS is fully in charge of government hospitals but patients are scared of going to hospitals without doctors. Isnt it obvious we need each other?

otokx:

It is alleged that doctors went away with the patients folder in UPTH so the nurses and others could not administer care.

My colleague who had just been operated by doctors had to be discharged home. When next you doctors are going on strike do well and leave the folders - it is also public property.

otokx, tnk God u said alleged. No doctor will do dat. It can't even happen. In the wards, nurses are d custodians of d folders. Once d folders leave d wards, dy head for records. All dat allegation is propaganda. Truth is dat dy can't do anything reasonable without doctors. Patients are aware nd dats why dy dnt near hospitals wen doctors are on strike

Excellent move, if this is followed up in these 3 stages & demands are met no strike wld be heard σƒ in some decades......better for d masses

bigtt76: Instead of looking for ways to help prevent spread of Ebola, these fools still on strike na den mate dey die for Liberia and Sierra Leone doing helpless service, these ones wan hammer ...God is watching!

You , mean they should be fighting Ebola with #5000 hazard allowance?
There is God oooooooo

[quote author=otokx]

It is alleged that doctors went away with the patients folder in UPTH so the nurses and others could not administer care.

It is not true that doctors took away folders. Are they medical records officers? How many folders can one carry? If they did, why did you not make new folders, after all what folders contain are doctors' orders.

This is good enough for me