The Abia Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has identified scarcity of equipment, human and material resources, and long working hours as major challenges hindering doctors’ optimal performance.
The Chairman of the Chapter, Dr Ezinwa Ezurike, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday at Umuahia, to mark the 2024 National Physicians Week.
Ezurike commended doctors in Abia for their resilience, compassion, and expertise, in spite of these challenges.
He said the 2024 theme, “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare Sector,” highlighted the need for a universal standard of remuneration to discourage Nigerian healthcare professionals from seeking opportunities abroad.
According to Ezurike, the “brain drain” phenomenon is not solely an individual decision but also a consequence of a system that fails to offer fair compensation and career fulfilment.
He emphasised that fair remuneration encompassed not only salary but also recognition of healthcare workers’ value, which motivated them and guarded against burnout.
He noted the Key challenges faced by healthcare workers were inadequate infrastructure and resources hindering healthcare delivery and excessive working hours contributing to burnout and decreased quality of care.
Other challenges, he said are disparities in remuneration across locations, institutions, and cadres, low pay and poor working conditions discouraging young professionals from entering the healthcare sector.
Ezurike urged governments to prioritise healthcare by implementing the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and improving healthcare infrastructure and working conditions.
He stressed that Nigeria cannot compete with other countries in retaining healthcare professionals without fair, transparent, and universally applicable remuneration.
NAN
