The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called for the refurbishing of the existing 20 teaching hospitals spread across the six geo-political zones of the country, thereby increasing the budgetary allocation for the health sector.

This, according to the union, will reduce medical tourism abroad.

At the National Executive Council Meeting of the Association holding in Kaduna State, the NMA President, Dr. Mike Ogirima, stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s ailment could have been treated in Nigeria if the state of medical facilities in the country were in good condition.

He urged the Federal Government to allocate adequate funding for the health sector as well as improving the welfare of doctors in public hospitals, warning that failure to urgently address those challenges could attract strike action by the nation’s Resident Doctors.

On his part, the Minister of Health, Professor Issac Adewole says the government is doing enough to boost the heath sector, assuring the doctors of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the health sector in order to achieve sustainable health care for the citizens.

The Minister, who announced that efforts were being made to clear the backlog of arrears of allowances and other entitlements owed to resident doctors, also assures that the federal government will upgrade ten teaching hospitals across the country before the end of 2018, as part of efforts to boost healthcare service delivery to Nigerians.

This year’s annual conference is themed: ‘Preparing for Epidemics in Nigeria: The Role of Healthcare Financing.’

The main focus of the meeting is on how the government should adequately fund the health sector. (Channels TV)

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