BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has called on the Federal Government to implement the National Health (2014) Act to provide for the care of patients in emergency situations including those with identity challenge.
National President of the NMA, Dr. Francis Adebayo, who made the call in a message at the 2019 Physicians Week, noted that there is no ensuring policy to cater for victims of road traffic accidents, a major cause of morbidity and mortality that accounts for large numbers of unknown victims.
Dr. Adebayo, who was represented by the Kaduna state chairman of the NMA, Dr. Stephen Kache Akau, expressed concern that victims of gunshot injury with broad provision in the National Health Act in 2014 lack policy statement that clearly addresses the various components of the emergency care services for the set of patients.
According to him; “It is pertinent to emphasize that though there is provision of fund for emergency care within the framework of National Health Act 2014, but the disbursement procedure is largely ambitious.
“Therefore, while appreciating the federal government for the release of the 1 per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), part of which should be channeled to the treatment of emergency conditions, it is sad to note that the Federal Ministry of Health is yet to put template in place for judicious use.
“The NMA is perplexed that the Federal Ministry of Health is concentrating on purchasing ambulances rather than rolling out mechanisms that are all encompassing and would address the critical aspects of emergency care services including proper and adequate reimbursement of providers especially at the level of private health care facilities.”
The NMA, he said, advocates for the provision of defibrillator at strategic public arena and health facilities for the prompt care of patients with heart attack and related conditions either in the hospital setting or before taking such patients to a health care facility for proper care.
“The Nigerian Medical Association uses this opportunity to drum support for the formulation of enduring policy for the care of the unknown patients, and appeal to government at all levels to be more responsive and responsible to the welfare of Nigerian physicians who are making selfless sacrifices to sustain healthcare delivery in the country amidst various challenges including incessant harassment, kidnapping in the line of duty, the abysmal physicians to patients ratio and rise in brain brought about mainly by the poor general working condition in the health sector,” he lamented.
