Laboratory Scientists decry underfunding of health sector in Nigeria
…Proffer remedies for the maladies
By Dennis Udo-Udoma, Uyo
The Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), has decried the continuous underfunding of the health sector in Nigeria in the past two decades saying, the development is responsible for the brain drains, medical tourism abroad and maladministration in our hospitals.
The body, made the observations during their National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital at the weekend.
NEC, in its seven point communique jointly signed by the President, Prof. James Damen, Secretary, Prof. Musa Muhibi and National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olusoji Billyrose issued to journalists at the weekend called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to urgently address the issues of underfunding of the health sector, which it said, was oscillating between 5-8 per cent of the total budget against the 15 percent approved during the 2001 Abuja Declaration by the African Heads of States.
The Association also called on the Federal Government to among other things; address the public health emergencies, non – communicable diseases, sanitation, cancer awareness, procurement of laboratory reagents/medical and dental infrastructure in the nation’s health institutions to create the enabling working environment for paramedics and other staffers.
On the hospitals administration, NEC urged the National Assembly to expedite action in the passage of the Bill for an Act to amend the University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards etc) Act Cap U15 LFN 2004 to address all the discriminatory tendencies and promote inclusiveness to benefit the average Nigerian patients as well as enhance participation of more professionals to train and practice.
The Association frowned at the thriving issue of medical tourism by Nigerians, especially the political class noting that, the country loses over N664 Billion annually in this regard and, charged the Nigerian government through the Central Bank/Bank of Industry to provide financial support (Special Intervention Funds) to the private sector Investment for healthcare delivery and building of mega-high tech medical laboratories that can compete globally.
NEC expressed with sadness, the continuous escalated human capital flight in the health sector saying, in 2022 alone the Association lost 906 medical laboratory scientists to foreign countries arising from poor leadership in the sector, corruption, poor remuneration and toxic work environment.
The President of the Association, Prof. Damen however called on the government to urgently address these concerns as futuristic remedy for the maladies.
