By Chinyere Amalu

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) last week gave the rationale behind its resolution that a medical practitioner be appointed Minister of  health, saying “it is the only way  the system could deliver effective healthcare services to Nigerians

At a press briefing to mark the Association’s 50th  Anniversary in Abuja,  the  President, Dr. Prosper Igboeli also described the decay in the sector to system failure and power play.

Igboleli  said politics has prevented Nigerian Government from putting the right persons at the right places adding that  unless professionals are appointed Nigeria  may not get it right.

He further  noted that pharmacists, nurses, Lab scientists, radiographers, among others are all important in the sector as their ultimate goal is to provide quality service to  patients.

In his words, “Over the years, there have been deterioration in the health system of this nation. This is as a result of system error. Politics and cabalism, has entered into the system and has completely destroyed it. Professionals should be allowed to head ministries where they have wealth of knowledge, be it health or education etc.”

The NMA President, however, said “of all the professionals in the health sector, there is one with extreme knowledge, the medical doctor”, adding, “Although all professionals in the system are important”.

He also blamed the struggle existing between professionals in the health sector to the nations’ administration, saying, “It is only in Nigeria that doctors and pharmacists do not agree”. “What are we fighting for; our ultimate goal is the well-being of our patients. The management of the patents to a successful outcome is all we strive for. In Nigeria, we use politics to pollute structures on ground. The health sector is important and  we must make  it to work effectively”

On the forth coming 50th Anniversary, the NMA said it is time for medical doctors to search their souls on how  far they have gone in repositioning the system which was entrusted in their care.