Doctors want public intervention in its face off with FG

The Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday called on prominent individuals to intervene in its face-off with the Federal Government.
The Chairman, Plateau State chapter of the association, Dr. Chris Yilgwan, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
The doctors have gone on a warning strike in December to press its demand for improved condition of service and other issues.
Yilgwan told NAN that the union would be forced to embark on a full blown strike from January 6 if the government did not accede to its demands.
He said that doctors’ poor working condition had continued to lead to brain drain in the health sector as many seek greener pasture abroad.
He said: “The brain drain in the health sector has led to one Nigerian doctor attending to 5,000 patients.
“This is far away from the real World Health Organisation prescription of one doctor to 600 patients.
“It is therefore the resolve of the association to awaken the government, at all levels, to address this demand.
“Nigeria has all it takes to attract and retain the best medical work force rather than allow our country to be drained of these useful human resources.”
Yilgwan also decried the low budgetary allocation to the health sector and the slow progress of the universal health coverage in the country.