The federal government has directed all federal teaching hospitals to accelerate their hiring process for medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, to prevent a shortage of healthcare workers in the country.
It also reiterated its commitment towards enhancing the well-being and safety of medical professionals and upgrading all government-run healthcare facilities nationwide.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom, who represented the Minister of Health, during a meeting with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) led by its national president, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, to discuss and resolve issues brought forward by the association to the ministry.
She acknowledged the issues and noted that the Ministry of Health was working with other relevant ministries to address the concerns, including power supply and security.
She also disclosed that the 2024 budget has provisions for solar power in all federal tertiary hospitals.
Kachollom noted: “On our health sector, our doctors are no doubt the best paid, but their renumeration needs to be improved. I wish the Federal Ministry of Finance and the accountant general were here to say more, because the issue of renumeration cannot be solved only by the Ministry of Labour, and the Ministry of Health.
“On the issue of power, the federal Minister of health is in touch with the ministry of power.
In the 2024 budget, there is a provision for solar power for federal tertiary hospitals.
On the issue of Japa, everyone is “japaing” for several reasons, and we are putting in our best to ensure we do not lack manpower in our health sector.
“On the issue of insecurity, the Minister of Health has spoken to the National Security Adviser and putting pressure on other security concerns of the healthcare workers.
“Let me also bring to your notice, Hon. Minister, that the Ministry of Health has asked the teaching hospitals to double their intake of doctors and nurses,” she added.