Situation Report on the National Medical Association Emergency Delegates Meeting Greetings from the National President, NOC and delegates to the just concluded EDM. The EDM of the Nigerian Medical Association took place on Saturday 26th July, 2014 at Pauliham hotel, Gwarimpa, Abuja. On the agenda was the update on NMAs open letter to the government/minimum demands. The meeting was well attended by all states and FCT delegates, with appology from Bornu state due to the inability of the delegates to get a flight from Maiduguri, 2 past presidents, viz; Dr. Stephen KITCHENER, Dr. Idris OMEDE Immediate past Sec. Gen. Dr. Pemu. The meeting lasted over 12 hours with the house going on a 4hr recess for delegates to put heads together for decisions to be made on the way forward. Prior the recess, all state chairmen spoke for and against whether the strike should be suspended or not after the president read his opening/welcome address. The welcome address was tagged; RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS This culminated in the open letter to the Secretary to the Government of the federation (SGF) on 11th June, 2014. Twenty four (24) point demands were itemised to be looked into by the Government. This paper is meant to report on the progress so far and chart the way forward: 1. Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC). The situation update now is that the position has been restored and circular issued to the effect. The conclusion of this circular is unambiguously clear: THE ESTABLISHED POSITION WILL CONTINUE TO BE FILLED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE DELIBERATIONS HMH/ABJ/155/v ¡¡¡/3484. 2. On appointment of Directors, it was agreed that the Teaching Hospital Act should not be violated; so status quo remains. 3. Skipping: The current status now is that Government has no objection to Doctors skipping on CONMESS 3, the modalities of its implementation will be submitted to NOC/negotiating team of NMA within 6 weeks, 4 weeks gone already, so in 2 weeks time the modalities of implementation will be made available to NOC/negotiating team. 4. Consultant: The circular on this has made it categorically clear that; THE DESIGNATION OF CONSULTANT SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR PERSONNEL WITH QUALIFICATIONS REGISTERABLE WITH MEDICAL AND DENTAL COUNCIL OF NIGERIA MH/ PM138/Vol.111/85, 18th July, 2014. 5. Relativity: The update on this is that the adjustment in salary was not factored into 2014 budget. The Government position isthat this will be factored into the 2015 budget and will take effect from January 2014. A sum for 2 months arrears is to be released within 7 working days available as index of commitment. There is no pool of funds upon which to draw supplementary budget; so say the budget office. The MOU is as follows: IMPLEMENTATION AND PAYMENT OF RELATIVITY ARREARS ARISING FROM THE JANUARY 3, 2014 CIRCULARS, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RELATIVITY ARREARS TOOK EFFECT FROM JANUARY 2014. FURTHERMORE, THE 2 MONTHS ARREARS (JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 2014) OFFERED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PAID WITHIN SEVEN (7) WORKING DAYS WITH EFFECTIVE FROM WEDNESDAY, JULY 30 , 2014. IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE BALANCE OF TEN (10) MONTHS ARREARS SHOULD BE FACTORED INTO THE 2015 APPROPRIATION ACT AND PAID IN LUMP SUM. 6. The National Health Bill has been passed, currently undergoing harmonisation by the two legislative houses for onward passage to the presidency for accent. 7. Surgeon General of the Federation has been described as desirable and should be pursued to the legislature. The NMA has prepared a position paper on the issue. It is also in the pipeline that NMA should establish a legislative desk in the National Assembly. 8.THE STEP FOR HOUSE OFFICERS SHALL BE ADDRESSED TO THE EQUIVALENT OF CONHESS 9, STEP 4 AND MEDICAL OFFICER/REGISTRAR TO CONMESS 2 STEP 3 AS WAS DONE FOR OTHER HEALTH WORKERS AT THEIR ENTRY POINT the circular to this effect has been received from the office of the Head of Service. medicalworldnigeria 9. Clinical allowance, 10. Specialist allowance, 11. Hazard allowance, The procedure for negotiation for the above 3 to be followed up with the Federal Ministry of Health. NMA has submitted the names of her negotiating team. 12. The circular on rural posting, teaching, and other allowances has been released SWC/S/04/S176/T/73, of July, 2014. 13. Withdrawal of CBN circular on the importation of in vitro dianostics- Federal Ministry of Health was given a deadline (1 month) to write the CBN on the issue and copy NMA. NMA team also honoured an invitation from CBN, where they promised to take action on our demand. Recently, we also visited NAFDAC where the DG told us about his plan to visit the CBN. The letter to the CBN has been written by the Federal Ministry of Health and NMA has been copied -ref MH/PA/138/Vol 111/81. 14. Circular on retirement age: Report already completed by the 12 man committee and to be made available within 2 weeks (follow up is necessary). The committee is being hosted by Delta State Government. 15. On Residency Training Programme: template has been released; THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO FORWARD THE TEMPLATE FOR USE AT YOUR END AS GUIDE IN RESIDENCY TRAINING. THIS DIRECTIVE IS IN TANDEM WITH POLICY AS STIPULATED IN THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND IN CONSONANCE WITH NATIONAL VISION. Ref. No. C2262/38 18th July, 2014. 16. All outstanding claims pertaining to doctors in FMC Owerri have been paid. 17. Doctors have assured Government of our readiness to cope with the challenges inherent in the progress of reintegration of members back into IPPIS platform. The Government on her part has indicated the willingness to commence immediately. 18. That circular that guarantees the right of house officers to be members of lawful associations has been released.. HOUSE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED FROM JOINING ANY ASSOCIATION THAT ARE RECOGNISED BY LAW. Ref. No. C2262T/264, 18th July, 2014. 19. Physical assault on Doctors by other health workers - All criminal actions should be reported specifically and handled according to the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR). 20. Incomplete payment of salaries of doctors: Action to be taken by the permanent Secretary, FMOH and the Director of Human Resources and they are to report back to the government/NMA team at the next meeting. 21. Universal applicability; the state/Local Governments can be reached through persuasion, National Council on Establishment matters, National Economic Council. Any of these channels shall be explored. The NMA National will always rally support for states in the implementation of the circulars. medicalworldnigeria 22. On Health Trust Fund, the NMA earlier proposal has been re activated. HEALTH AND HOSPITALS DEVELOPMENT INTERVENTION FUND other interested partners are to join the programme. 23. The position of CMD remains sacrosanct and has not been compromised: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR ITS AGENCIES HAVE NO PLAN TO REPEAL THE TEACHING HOSPITALS ACT, BUT NMA MUST WATCH OUT FOR A PRIVATE BILL. 24. On the continued violation of the terms of the 2009 collective bargaining agreement, it was decided that: A LETTER DIRECTING THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CONMESS AND CONHESS CIRCULAR BE SENT TO ALL CMDs AND MEDICAL DIRECTORS. This is to be followed up by the Government/NMA team on Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In conclusion, NMA circular on minimum end point says; THE ISSUANCE OF CIRCULARS ON THESE END POINTS FOR RESTORATION OF SUSTAINABLE SANITY IN PATIENT CARE IN NIGERIAN HOSPITALS WILL END THE STRIKE. It is hereby noted that all the 24 point demands have received positive responses, and circulars have been issued as appropriate. In summary, these demands are classified into 3 categories for action, viz; immediate, middle, and long term. Items 1,2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 23 are under immediate action with positive response from government. Items 3, 8, 13, 14 and 24 are classified under middle term receiving actions from government to be followed up by the NOC and the negotiating team.medicalworldnigeria Items 7, 9, 10, 11, 21, and 22 are classified under long term, also receiving attention with close follow up by the NOC. medicalworldnigeria/2014/07/situation-report-on-the-national-medical-association-emergency-delegates-meeting#.U9bU0_ldWPY
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 22:58:23 +0000
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