SEE THE Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria Communique Issued at its NEC Meeting

MEDICAL AND DENTAL CONSULTANTS' ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (MDCAN) EXTRA-ORDINARY NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT TOP RANK HOTEL, GARKI, ABUJA ON TUESDAY 21ST JUNE 2016 

COMMUNIQUE: An Extra-ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Medical and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria was called to address some pressing and urgent issues affecting members of the Association and health care delivery in the country. 

During the meeting, NEC observed the following; 

• It is sad to note the continuous disruption of services in our hospitals. That currently the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is on a nationwide avoidable strike action at a period Nigerians needs health services the most. 

• The attempt by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the National Universities Commission to harmonise the Ph.D and Fellowship programmes. However it was noted that the Fellowship programme is a professional training that is built on apprenticeship and clinical skills acquisition in addition to academic components whereas a Ph.D is purely academic and does not adequately prepare or equip one with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to train medical students, postgraduate doctors and treat patients. 

• The attempt by some authorities in Nigerian universities to discredit the honour of medical lecturers by falsely accusing them of receiving double salaries and embarrassing them by petitioning them to Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). The practice of paying medical lecturers salaries in the Universities and honorarium for work done in the teaching hospitals is enshrined in the regulations of the civil service of Nigeria. 

• The role of some Chief Medical Directors/Medical Directors (CMDs/ MDs) in the current industrial crisis rocking the health sector. It is disheartening that the people entrusted with leadership positions in our hospitals are refusing to pay allowances to medical doctors while paying all non- medical doctors the same. This is in spite of a clear directive by the supervising ministry. This has led to avoidable 

and recurrent disruption of service; thereby depriving Nigerians the N A much needed health care services. 

• The difficulty for the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to effectively regulate medical practice in Nigeria. This may not be unconnected with the recurrent dissolution of MDCN board which is a statutory body, making it difficult for the Council to carry out its statutory role of regulating medical practice in Nigeria. 

Following extensive deliberations on these very crucial matters, the NEC resolved as follows: 

1. Is unhappy with the order to replace the striking resident doctors by the Federal Ministry of Health at the peak of a high level intervention and dialogue mediated by the Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara. MDCAN is determined to do all within its powers to push forward an amicable resolution of the impasse. 

2. That MDCAN rejects the imposition of Ph.D on her members as a prerequisite for teaching medical students and career progression in the University system. 

3. That the Yayale Ahmed Presidential Committee report on Industrial Harmony in the health sector in Nigeria be speedily implemented so as to restore the much desired industrial peace in our health system for the benefit of patients. 

4. That CONHESS should be applicable ONLY to staff with health related qualifications in Federal and State health facilities in the country. This would go a long way in reducing personnel cost especially at this period of crippling economic downturn. 

5. That the refusal of some CMDs/MDs to pay accrued allowances to medical doctors is unacceptable and condemnable. The CMDs/MDs are also reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure industrial harmony in their various centres so that the ordinary Nigerians do not suffer harm from service disruption. 

6. Propose a single tenure for CMDs/MDs as is done in the Universities for Vice Chancellor position. 

Signed:

Prof. Sani Balarabe Garko President 

Dr. Abdulkadir L. Rafindadi Secretary General 

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