No doctor should earn below N1m monthly — OOUTH ARD

Dr. John Omotoso, President of the Association of Resident Doctors at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, has described Nigeria's health sector as "appalling." He urged both federal and state governments to declare a state of emergency to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.

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The truth is that practising medicine in the country is no longer appealing and encouraging, and the faster the government moves to address this challenge, the better for all of us.

Omotoso highlighted the critical issue of poor remuneration for health workers, stating that given the country's economic realities, no medical doctor should earn less than N1 million per month. He explained that inadequate compensation and poor conditions of service are primary reasons for the mass migration of healthcare professionals seeking better opportunities abroad, leading to a severe shortage of medical personnel and negatively impacting services.

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I strongly recommend that the government should declare a state of emergency in the health sector. This is quite important.

To address this, Omotoso proposed a radical policy: prohibiting politicians and public officeholders from seeking medical treatment outside Nigeria. He believes such a measure would compel those in power to prioritize funding and develop local hospitals, thereby improving healthcare for all citizens. "If that is done, many of the hospitals that have been left unattended would be looked into," he asserted.

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One of the most radical steps that can be taken is to implement a policy that will stop politicians and public officeholders from going outside the country to seek medical attention.

Omotoso emphasized that implementing this policy would be a crucial starting point for revitalizing medical practice in the country. He also challenged the government to ensure adequate remuneration for all healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and others, comparable to what politicians receive. He expressed confidence that fair compensation would encourage many Nigerian medical professionals working abroad to return home.

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Given the reality of our present economy, no medical doctor should earn less than N1 million per month. An average politician even takes this amount as an allowance.