The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) President, Prof. Bala Audu, has emphasised the need for the consistent implementation of the Medical Salary Structure across all the states in the country, as the National Physicians’ Week kicks off in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Audu, in his statement to journalists on Tuesday explained that the issue of healthcare workers seeking better opportunities is a structural problem rather than personal decision.
The NMA President underscoring this year’s event with the theme, “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare System”, stressed that health workers in the Nigeria are either underpaid or overworked. He called on a balance and improvement in the healthcare sector.
“This mass exodus, known as ‘brain drain’ is not merely a symptom of individual decisions; it is a consequence of a system that fails to offer fair compensation and career fulfilment. Fair remuneration is more than just a salary figure; it is a recognition of our value, a motivator for excellence, and a safeguard against burnout,” he said .
However, Audu highlighted the effect that salary inconsistency is playing on the health sector, noting that all these challenges faced by healthcare workers discourage future health professionals from aspiring to enter into the sector or remain in the sector thereby increasing the workload for those already in the health system.
The President of the NMA urged government to implement a standardized salary structure, emphasising the significance for payment of good salary and investing in health sector in order to elevate working conditions.
“We, therefore, urge all levels of government to ensure the uniform implementation of our salary structure, the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), across all states and healthcare levels.
“The government must invest in our health infrastructure, improve working conditions for health workers, and prioritise health in our national agenda,” he said.
Prof. Bala Audu further stated that countries globally acknowledge the significance of fair salaries and invest in implementing quality salaries to improve their health sector. He employing the Federal Government of Nigeria to do same to aid improvement and productivity in the nation’s health sector.
“Nigeria cannot expect to compete for talent unless it prioritizes and makes remuneration fair, transparent, and universally applicable,” he maintained.
