Ogun NMA calls for implementation of universal CONMESS salary structure

By Joy Akinsanya

The Ogun State Chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has called on the state government to improve their salary structure by implementing a universal Consolidated Salary Structure (CONMESS) across all healthcare sector.

Dr, Luqman Ogunjimi, the NMA Chairman, made the call in a press briefing heralding the 2024 Physicians Week/Scientific Conference on Tuesday in Abeokuta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference theme is: “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Renumeration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the health Industry”

Dr Ogunjimi noted that fair compensation was very crucial for motivating doctors and ensuring delivery of qualitative healthcare services.

He added that fair compensation would also discourage brain drain that has hit the healthcare sector.

According to him, We have noticed a troubling trend in recent years, our most qualified and experienced medical professionals who are the backbone of our healthcare system are leaving Nigeria in quest for better opportunities elsewhere.

The medical expert, urged the government to improve the welfare of healthcare workers, saying that it would curb the menace of healthcare doctors leaving the country to fetch for greener pasture elsewhere.

He, however, commended the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for demonstrating a strong commitment in ensuring and implementing fair remuneration for doctors working with the state government.

”We commend the state government in rectifying our salary scales and await implementation by the end of the month.

“We however, urged the state to ensure arrears are settled aligning our benefits with our counterparts in the federal institution and other states who have received for over 16 months” he said.

The medical expert, disclosed that a free medical outreach would be carried out at Osile Oke-Ona Egba’s palace in Abeokuta, as part of activities to mark the physicians week.

He added that the outreach would be tied in with the state governments project of 10 million initiative.

“This outreach is aimed at providing accessible healthcare services and the importance of health metrics particularly for those with chronic conditions,” he said.

The Guest Speaker at the Conference, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, a Consultant and Public Health Physician, spoke on the theme: “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Renumeration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Health Industry”

Ipaye, emphasised that there was need for fair and just compensation to be provided to employees regardless of Job specification or location.

Ipaye, a former Commissioner for Health in the state also outlined some challenges of universal applicability renumeration for health workers which includes: funding, economic disparities, administrative complexity, marketing forces among others.

He also mapped out strategies in ensuring universal applicability of the doctor’s pay which includes: policy reforms, increasing funding for the healthcare sectors, motivating physicians by given them incentives based on performance, improving working conditions of health workers, transparency and accountability.

He added that, in addressing the issue of brain drain, the universal applicability renumeration needed to be ensured, saying that if doctors are compensently paid, their chances of leaving the country would be limited.

He however, called on the governments to invest at least minimum of 70 per cent of the national resources on primary healthcare services in order to meet the health need of people living in rural areas.

He also urged the government to work on other conditions of service in the healthcare sector by providing good working environment, equipment, training and security.

NAN reports that the week long programme features: scientific conference on Tuesday; free medical outreach on Wednesday, symposium on Thursday, Jumaat service/sporting activities on Friday while young doctors forum holds on Saturday. (NAN)