Why can’t a matron take instruction from doctor ? – Lawmaker

Lagos – Mr Ajibayo Adeyeye, the Majority
Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, on
Friday said the ongoing nationwide strike by
medical doctors in government-owned
hospitals was justified.
Adeyeye, a medical practitioner, said in Lagos
that unhealthy rivalry was the major challenge
facing the nation’s health sector.
“It is very unfortunate that doctors are on
strike. “I am never happy when hospitals are
closed in the country where an average person
cannot afford private healthcare.
“But, the doctors’ demands are justifiable’’, he
said.
The lawmaker decried the unhealthy rivalry,
which he said, had characterised the sector in
recent times.
He said that nurses, laboratory technologists,
physiotherapists and other categories of
health workers were usurping the duties of
doctors.
The House Leader said it was not good for
somebody who is not a doctor to be
appointed as the head of a hospital.
“I wonder why a matron, who probably
because she had served for more than 30
years, could not take instructions from a
doctor.
“Medicine requires rigorous training; it is a
profession that we are taught almost
everything in the interest of patients and the
public at large.
“Quackery has become the norm in Nigeria. It
is unfortunate that it is only in Nigeria that
you can find somebody who is not a member
of NMA giving treatment to patients.
“Almost everywhere you go, there are quacks
attending to the patients’’, he said.
The lawmaker said that many doctors could
not afford to train their own children to
become doctors because doctors were so
impoverished
“They cannot afford to put their children in
schools to train as medical practitioners.
“Lawyers collect 10 per cent; architects collect
3.5 per cent as commission for performing
their duties.
“So, what percentage do you want to give a
doctor for saving lives? The society should
treat doctors fairly”, he said.
The Joint Health Sector Union has taken the
Nigeria Medical Association to court for going
on strike, claiming that the NMA lacks
the constitutional right to do so.
Joined in the suit are the Federal Ministry of
Health, Federal Ministry of Labour and
Productivity, the Registrar of Trade Unions,
and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The National President of NMA, Dr Kayode
Obembe, said the doctors’ 24-point demand
included discontinuation of recognition
of non-medical doctors as directors and
consultants.
The demands also include the appointment of
a Surgeon-General of the Federation (SGF),
payment of clinical duty and hazard
allowances among
others. (NAN)