Ngige slammed for saying US, UK don’t pay resident doctors

The Nigerian Medical Association has criticised the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, for saying developed nations like the United States and the United Kingdom don’t pay resident doctors.

Ngige, who is also a medical doctor, had berated NARD for embarking on a nationwide strike, claiming that developed countries don’t pay resident doctors.

He had also stated on Channels Television that resident doctors in foreign countries actually pay the hospitals where they work while in Nigeria the reverse is the case.

Reacting in a statement by its National President, Prof Innocent Ujah; and its Secretary General, Dr Phillips Ekpe, the NMA knocked Ngige for his approach towards the strike.

The statement read in part, “In the interview, the minister alleged that in the US and other developed countries, resident doctors pay for their residency training abroad, whereas in Nigeria, the government pays them.

“Inasmuch as we appreciate the efforts being made by the government to resolve the issues that have led to this avoidable and unnecessary industrial action by NARD, the NMA wishes to clarify the misinformation by the minister in the interview, which is seriously viewed to be a hate speech capable of bringing down the health system in Nigeria and thereby worsening the health care delivery and further escalate the rather unimaginable current brain drain.”

The NMA said in the US and other developed countries, resident doctors work as they are being trained and they are paid by their employers.

“In the United Kingdom, the employer of resident doctors is the National Health Service, which is similar to what is obtainable in Nigeria,” it added.

The statement added, “The NMA is totally in disagreement with the way some government functionaries carry out their duties which is completely insensitive to the plight of the people.”

The NMA added, “Perhaps, this will help to reduce the current brain drain being experienced that is dealing a deadly blow to our health care delivery system and has made our hospitals to be regarded as mere consulting clinics.”

It said the government must prioritise and improve the health care delivery to Nigerians and at the same time improve the welfare of health workers.