Ibadin seeks better deal for health workers

TO check the incessant strikes by health workers, the Federal Government has been urged Government to ensure full implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in the sector, particularly to cover medical doctors in public service as part of the reforms for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Professor Mike Ibadin made the submission while fielding questions from reporters shortly after the suspension of the over two months strike action embarked by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) that crippled medical services in tertiary health institutions nationwide.

He added that the agitation for full implementation of consolidated medical salary scale (CONMESS) and commencement of payment of skipping of consolidated health salary scale 2 by medical doctors which led to the strike was unnecessary, noting that the Federal Ministry of Finance, under the Budget Office of the federation in a letter to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, Federal Tertiary Hospitals clearly stated that government has “no budgetary provision made for skipping on Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) in respect of any Federal Health Institution in the 2015 Appropriation Act.”

Ibadin however added that in addition to the skipping of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) as demanded by resident doctors, the Federal Government had simultaneously in the letter added that an appeal was filed by the Ministry of Health on the above subject matter and the matter is yet to be decided and wondered why the need to still embark on strike, noting that before any such action of skipping of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and commencement of payment of skipping of consolidated health salary scale 2 can be implemented, there has to be an approval from the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

Medical doctors’ demands are not in line with practical realities. Doctors are asking for a salary structure that is not funded.

The Federal Government has not made any fund available to cater for the issues raised by these doctors but we are currently faced with the situation of incessant strike by the doctors which is affecting the health sector too often,” the CMD stressed.