By Emma Arubi
WARRI — MEDICAL practitioners in Delta State have rejected the 60 percent proposal by the state government for the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, insisting on the full adoption of the 100 percent applicable at the federal level.

Medical activities in the state had been crippled by the strike action of the health care personnel as patients in government hospitals were forcefully discharged because of the action, which has entered the seventh day.

When Vanguard visited the Central hospital, Warri, the place was deserted  as no person was within sight.
A family, whose bread winner was among those forcefully discharged, said they were in pains as the financial burden of a private hospital was too much for them to carry.

According to them, they had to resorted to local treatment of the ailment, even as they appealed to the state government to urgently address the needs of the health workers to avoid the untimely death of many people, who cannot afford the high cost charged by private hospitals.

Investigation reveals that traditional health providers and private clinics in the state are having a field day, as sick patients are trooping in for medical attention.

A source who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity, said the Doctors are insisting on a 100% adoption of CONMESS because the state has the resources to pay, wondering how Ondo state can afford to pay the 100% and Delta State, which is far richer is negotiating to pay less.

He said that though state government health care delivery system was the best in the country, they who are making work smoothly needs to be adequately compensated and expressed worry that the state government was not carrying them along enough.