The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for clear policy statement by government on care of patients in emergency situations.
NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, who made the call in an address read on his behalf by NMA Chairman, Rivers State, Dr Obelebra Adebiyi at a press conference in Port-Harcourt, Tuesday, to mark this year’s Physicians’ Week said it was important for government to give desired attention to class of patients who need urgent medical care.
The NMA President said the theme of this year’s Physicians’ Week “Care of the Unknown Patient: an Overview”, was chosen to highlight issues affecting Nigerians who suddenly found themselves in unconscious state from road traffic accidents or from medical conditions like cardiovascular diseases or “simply from whatever that significantly impairs the consciousness of the patient with attendant difficulty in proper identification” saying any Nigerian could fall victim. He said another example of people needing emergency medical attention would be victims of gunshot wounds.
Dr Faduyile said: “Because the framework of the NHA 2014 on emergency care vis-à-vis the 1% Consolidated Revenue Fund is broad-based, and as such difficulty in the enforcement of some components of emergency care and the attendant preventable deaths of the unknown patient especially within a short time of arrival at health care facilities, I wish to reiterate that there is need for an enduring and unambiguous policy statement that takes into consideration the critical aspects of the care of emergencies.
“The Nigerian Medical Association wishes to bring to the knowledge of the public that the Nigerian government has not deemed it pertinent to accord the desired attention and value to this category of patients, the unknown patients”.
He said there’s lack of commitment in implementing the National Health Act (NHA) passed into law in 2014 which provides for care of patients in urgent medical situations.
He said all had not been well with Nigerian doctors with cases of kidnapping of medical doctors in course of doing their job and assault by patients and relations saying government also ill-treats medical doctors by poor general working environment and irregular payments with arrears in some states up to twelve months.
Dr Faduyile however said Nigerian doctors have continued to provide desirable health care services in spite of the challenges.
This year’s Physicians’ Week also had two subthemes: “Curbing the increasing trend of suicide in Nigeria: The role of the Nigerian Medical Association and The Doctor as an Entreprenuer”.
Dr Faduyile said it was the role of NMA “to strategize and synergize with other stakeholders to get appropriate information to the citizenry on facts and myths regarding mental health conditions including depression, their signs and symptoms and how to get basic care” and called on government and stakeholders at all levels to partner with the Nigerian Medical Association to provide social support for Nigerians battling with all forms of mental health problems.
He also said the Nigerian doctor should be “professionally savvy” and have entrepreneurial component saying the world was moving in terms of medical entrepreneurship at very fast pace.
Meanwhile, Chairman of NMA in Rivers State, Dr Obelebra Adebiyi, has said every challenge enumerated by the NMA President to be affecting doctors in the country also affects doctors in Rivers State.
She stated this as she answered journalists’ questions at the press conference.
She said doctors in Rivers State had been victims of kidnapping saying that a doctor had been in captivity for more than a year.
She commended the Rivers State government for paying salaries of doctors on time and also commended the government for renovating and equipping health care facilities in the state.
The NMA Chairman said doctors should not be “harassed” or “incarcerated” for treating patients with gunshot or machete cut wounds saying there was need for clear policy statement on the unknown patient.
