PRESS RELEASE BY THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION ON THE DEREGULATION OF THE OIL SECTOR.
Wednesday, 18th May, 2016.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) supports the deregulation of the oil sector but with a caveat that part of the palliatives should include the immediate release of at least 5% of the consolidated revenue fund as the basic health care provision fund (BHPF) which the National Health Act has given to Nigerians and guarantees its availability. This would revamp Primary Health Care (PHC) and reinvigorate the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to cover all Nigerians.
We also press for the Immediate rehabilitation and establishment of functional PHC in all the wards nationwide as a way of cushioning the harsh effects of out-of-pocket expenditure and various inequities in Healthcare delivery.
NMA also urges the Government to mobilize contractors to sites of road rehabilitation as this will reduce delays in reaching health care facilities and reduce road traffic accidents in the country.
We call for the immediate establishment of National emergency ambulance service for quick rescue and resuscitation of emergencies from our roads, provision of low tariff buses and rehabilitation of our railway system.
Mike Ozovehe Ogirima
Profesor of Orthopedics & Trauma Surgery
PRESIDENT, NIGERIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
