The Nigeria Pharmaceutical Association on Friday urged the Federal Government to address the demands of JOHESU members to prevent further loss of lives.
Onwuka made the call in an interview with newsmen in Enugu.
Reacting to the protracted strike, the Enugu state Chairman of the association, Mr Nnoso Onwuka, appealed to the government to urgently implement the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
CONHESS is one of the key demands of the aggrieved striking workers.
He said that it was very important for the government to implement the health workers salary structure without further delay to sustain the health indices so far attained.
“The effect of the industrial action by the joint health professionals in Nigeria has brought a lot of hardship and loss of lives to many families.
“Most of our patients have died due to the industrial action embarked upon by the JOHESU, as I’m speaking to you now I lost my sister on Wednesday due to the strike,” he said.
He said that everyone, including the health workers, have been affected negatively by the industrial action.
“Because the government had failed to meet our demand, we and our patients are undergoing a lot of health challenges.
“I therefore call on the government to immediately meet the demands of the JOHESU to avert more complications and loss of lives,’’ he said.
According to the chairman, it is not in the interest of the country that JOHESU is on strike, which has led to the death of many ordinary Nigerians who patronise public health facilities.
It would be recalled that members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) embarked on an indefinite industrial action in November, 2014, to press home demands for improved working condition, equipment and infrastructure in public health facilities in the country.
The union is, among other demands, seeking the implementation of the promotion of its members from salary CONHESS 14 to 15 as directors.
Another issue is the stagnation of its members between four and 15 years on the same salary level without promotion.