By Ayo Fadimu
The National Association of Resident Doctors has called for the full implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for resident doctors at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH).
The National President of the association, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, made the call on Wednesday when he led his executive on a courtesy visit to the Secretary to Anambra Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu.
Okhuaihesuyi urged the state government to review the implementation from 70 per cent to 100 per cent as obtained at the federal level.
He said that a full implementation of CONMESS would help to retain manpower in the hospital.
He thanked the state government for ensuring that the residency training programme at the state-owned university had become fully operational.
He also hailed the government for putting critical infrastructure on ground for effective and efficient health care delivery in the hospital.
Okhuaihesuyi also called for an upward review of the hazard allowance for resident doctors.
“We also want the state government to provide life insurance for doctors.
“All these will help to check the rate of brain drain in the health sector and make it comparable to some of the best in the world,” Okhuaihesuyi said.
The NARD president informed the SSG that the association was in the state for its week-long Ordinary General Assembly.
Responding, Chukwulobelu said the state government was determined to make COOUTH the best amongst its peers in terms of infrastructure and human capital development.
He said the 70 per cent implementation was the best the government could effectively afford.
He said the Condition of Service in the hospital was developed and approved by the present administration.
He said that CONMESS was reached using some of the best paying state hospitals as benchmark.
He, however, urged doctors not to rely on subvention for the sustenance of the hospital but strive to boost the hospital’s internally generated revenue to enhance their welfare.
Chukwulobelu said: “In advanced climes, money follows patients to best hospitals but here, money follows the doctors.
“Some consultants divert patients of public hospitals to their private hospitals.
“This is not healthy for the revenue profile of the hospital. They must work and apply business acumen to sustain themselves.
“Government has traveled far in terms of CONMESS. We agree for 70 per cent that we can pay. We also told the hospital to generate money and pay themselves. We do not want to pledge what we cannot pay.
“I encourage you to go for life insurance instead of hazard allowance, which is based on COVID-19.”