The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has described as ridiculous and reactionary fresh demands by the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, on the Federal Government.
JOHESU had last week given the Federal Government two weeks ultimatum to meet its demands or risk withdrawal services.
It had among others demanded for a Federal Government circular defining functions and powers of Honorary Consultants, Residency training for other health professionals, Issuance of guidelines on appointment of Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Autonomy for teaching Hospitals and the removal of university lecturers as heads in some clinical departments.
But the MDCAN in a statement issued on Monday by its President, Dr. Steven Oluwole, described the demands as ridiculous and reactionary.
He said, “From these demands, JOHESU has again presented itself as a conglomerate of rabble rousers! No ideological viewpoint designed to improve health care delivery or development is represented, but reactionary viewpoints that can only set the health system back.
‘’Residency training is not designed for popularity contest between medical and non-medicals. The request is an absurdity, when put into context of job description. I expect the response of government to be non-political and professional. On the issuance of guidelines on appointment of Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee,
This matter also is before the Court.”On autonomy for teaching Hospitals and the removal of university lecturers as heads in some clinical departments, Dr Oluwole said, “This request borders on the ridiculous! JOHESU wants Teaching Hospitals that were established by law to serve the Universities, from which they derive their names, to become autonomous of the Universities? They want university lecturers employed to teach in the Teaching Hospitals to be replaced by non-academic Consultants? Res ipsa locutor! On definition of functions and powers of Honorary Consultants, this matter is before the National Industrial Court. All parties, which include JOHESU, are expected to respect the judicial process.”
“The Federal Government should operate broad guidelines that will restore sanity to the health sector and break the cycle of strikes that are hinged primarily on the hideous claims, inimical drive, and self-serving demands of JOHESU that can only make mockery of Nigerian health system and ridicule the Government”, the association stated.