NMA calls for increased government funding for healthcare, mandatory health insurance plan
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Prof. Innocent Ujah, has called for increased government funding for healthcare and mandatory health insurance plan to make Nigeria to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Prof. Ujah who made the call yesterday at a press conference to mark the 2020 Physicians’ Week in Lagos urged government to establish a health bank and intensify Public-Private Policy (PPP) to provide accessible and affordable healthcare for the people.
While confirming that COVID-19 killed 16 doctors, with 321 infected by the virus while treating patients NMA chief added that the health sector was grossly under-funded, stating that the programme was to celebrate doctors who are contributing to effective health service delivery and health research in Nigeria.
He urged government to urgently implement an upward review of the hazard allowance paid to doctors and other frontline health workers in public service.
According to him, the programme provides the body the opportunity to review happenings in the health sector in the past 12 months.
He urged government to strengthen service delivery, health workforce and health information systems as well as improving access to essential medicines.
He urged all levels of government to invest in healthcare systems.
Ujah noted that the health systems face inadequate emergency preparedness and response due to inadequate human resources, infrastructural deficit and medical consumables.
According to him, Nigeria must honour the constitution and the international human rights treaties the country had ratified that guarantee right to health.
He said the right to health includes ensuring availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health care goods, facilities, and services.
Ujah appealed to Nigerians to continue to maintain COVID-19 guidelines to prevent a second wave of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the NMA yesterday warned of a possible second wave of COVID-19 in the country following the ongoing #EndSARS protests.
