The Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) is encouraging the Federal Government to act on a recommendation from the technical committee of a high-level organization.
This paper proposes a modification to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, which the union believes will prevent a repeat of the Joint Health Sector Unions’ recent strike.
The request was made in a statement released at the conclusion of the association’s national conference in Abuja, which addressed the serious issue of brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.
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The NUAHP asked that any changes made to the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure be applied to the CONHESS as well.
This, they believe, is consistent with the 2009 collective bargaining agreement that established two compensation schemes in the health sector.
The statement was signed by NUAHP President Kamal Ibrahim and General Secretary Martin Egbanubi, who said that the government can stop brain drain by increasing sector financing, improving working conditions, and establishing a better working environment for healthcare employees.
The union also demanded that the pharmacist consultant cadre circulars be implemented immediately.
They advocated for unrestricted career advancement, an end to discriminatory practices against health professionals, and said that the position of Minister of Health should not be limited to physicians.
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They also proposed that the positions of Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer be made available to other health professionals.
The union also proposed an increase in board representation for other healthcare professionals, from one to eight of the board’s 14 members, citing the fact that these workers account for 95% of the entire healthcare workforce.
The union’s statement continued, stating that “The position of Chairman Medical Advisory Committee should no longer be appointed from the University but among substantive Directors/Deputy Directors in teaching hospitals, by the public service rule.”
It also called for the introduction of a new hazard allowance for all state health institutions, as well as the payment of outstanding salary owed to health employees in Abia, Imo, and Rivers States.
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Furthermore, the union asked for the prompt employment of health experts to fill the void left by brain drain.
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