On the occasion of President Bola Tinubu’s one-year anniversary, the Nigerian Medical Association and the National Association of Resident Doctors in Kaduna State are urging Kano State Governor Uba Sani to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in its entirety.

The associations made this demand in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna, commemorating the governor’s one-year anniversary.

According to Dr. Madaki Sheyin, Chairman of NMA, the state has made significant progress in the health sector, particularly in secondary facilities, with many Primary Health Centers upgraded.

However, he emphasized the need for CONMESS implementation to further improve the healthcare system.

” I will score him above average. Recently, repairs of some infrastructure started in the secondary facilities.”

Sheyin encouraged the governor to fully implement the new salary structure so as to attract more personnel to the state.

” CONMESS is the consolidated medical salary scale approved for doctors in the country.

”It is supposed to be applicable to all the medical doctors working in the country irrespective of whether they are working with the Federal Government, State or LGA.

” But, since it started in 2009, doctors in Kaduna State have never had a full implementation, hence the pay parity between doctors in the Federal and State.

” It is also being reviewed every four to five years, so it was reviewed in 2014, 2019 & 2023 & at the federal level.”

The NMA chairman mentioned that the state has been on the 2009 scale, lamenting the refusal of the previous administration to implement the 2014 reviewed package.

He noted, “It only promised and signed MOUs, which were never honoured. The Uba Sani administration promised in August to implement the 100 per cent  2014 CONMESS in August last year.

”That was partly implemented in March 2024 for some doctors, while others are yet to get that implemented.

”But they have shown the willingness to do so and are in discussion with the Association and its affiliates.”

Dr. Madaki Sheyin stated that implementing the full salary structure would attract more workers to the state. Additionally, Dr. Josiah Bosan, President of NARD at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, commended the governor on his accomplishments during his first year in office.

He observed that the past year saw notable advancements in the healthcare sector, which aligns with the governor’s priorities.

Bosan added” This improvement could be appreciated, especially at the primary and secondary healthcare level.

”Worthy of note are in areas of renovation of some General hospitals and PHCs, as well as equipping them with medical facilities and consumables.”

Dr. Josiah Bosan also expressed gratitude to the governor for continuing to provide free maternal and neonatal services and for enhancing the compensation packages for doctors under the state Ministry of Health.

However, he also highlighted that ,   ” The only state-owned tertiary hospital in the state, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, has not really recorded any significant improvements rather than facing continuous deterioration of healthcare service delivery.

“On Barau Dikko, many issues are threatening to derail the smooth running of the hospital.

”Its autonomy should be fully restored. This will solve more than 80 per cent of its challenges and the running battle with the resident doctors and deteriorating services, with limited doctors”

Dr. Josiah Bosan disclosed that the hospital faces significant challenges, including a shortage of medical and laboratory supplies, inadequate staffing, and a severe shortage of House Officers, which has disrupted residency training programs, leading to a brain drain and burnout among healthcare professionals.

He also expressed concern about the poor compensation received by resident doctors in the state and urged the government to fully implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) to address these issues.

He stated, ” Residents doctors are poorly paid and there is non-funding of residency programmes, just to mention a few.

”But, we are hopeful that things will improve as there are ongoing significant negotiations and we will still call on His Excellency to make that come to pass.”

Similarly, Dr. Abass Ajayi, the former Secretary of NARD, appealed to President Tinubu to enhance the working conditions for doctors.

He emphasized the need for increased employment of healthcare workers, procurement of essential equipment, and timely payment of medical residency training funds to improve the overall healthcare system.

”I urge the Federal Government to pay our residency training funds for a 200 per cent increase in allowances and to also pay all our arrears,” Ajayi appealed

He emphasized that additional efforts are necessary to mitigate the brain drain and optimize the recruitment process in the health sector, thereby addressing the widespread shortage of healthcare professionals across the country.

Ajayi requested, “There should be good remuneration in the health sector, which is commensurate with the current economic conditions. Doctors are pretty overworked.”

The doctor lamented the ongoing departure of pharmaceutical companies from Nigeria, resulting in skyrocketing drug prices, and cautioned that this trend will restrict access to healthcare for Nigerians, exacerbating the country’s health challenges.