Shortage of Doctors: : NMA cries out in Nasarawa state ,urges govt attention

By David Odama

The Nasarawa state Council of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Friday asked the state government to employ more qualified medical doctors to address the shortage of Doctors in government facilities.

Newly sworn-in chairman of the association,. Dr Isa Ohyoma made the appeal shortly after the inauguration of the newly constitution of officials in Lafia, the Nasarawa State.

According to Ohyoma, shortage of doctors in government hospitals was greatly hampering smooth running of the health facilities addy however that this would be the first issue his leadership would pursue in ensuring better quality service delivery.

He said that the shortage of doctors was adversely impacting negatively on the few of the doctors who resisted the temptation of internal and external brain drain (japa) in search of better welfare and working conditions.

“Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) Lafia currently has about 170 doctors serving 388, 000 population of Lafia and other referral cases over and above doctors patient ratio.The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended one-doctor-to-600-patients, but the case in the state is far above the standard.

“There is definitely work overload in all hospitals in the state including the Federal Medical Centre Keffi and it is affecting us already,” he added.

The NMA Chairman further explained that brain drain cannot be stopped, but, it can be managed through better welfare, incentives, and security for their members.

He also called on the Federal Government to hire more medical doctors, improve welfare and doctors, and ensure their security in their respective places of assignment to curtail brain drain.

He lamented that the renewed hope in the health sector would not be achieved if the well-trained medical personnel continued to leave the country as a result of poor welfare.

Ohyoma however, promised to partner the state government and Chief Executives of all healthcare institutions in the state to ensure that the people get better service.