By Our Correspondent
The Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria have said that they are equally as relevant to the health care delivery system of the country as doctors.
In a statement signed by AHAPN Chairman, Mr. Martins Oyewole, and his Secretary, Mr. Jelili Kilani, the body condemned the Nigerian Medical Association for rejecting the harmonisation of all medical and health workers’ salaries.
According to them, every profession in the health care sector has its scheme of service which clearly stipulates job description and corresponding remuneration as approved by the relevant regulatory agencies.
The association accused the NMA of undermining and denigrating other professionals in the sector, by the privileges her members have enjoyed serving as ministers of health and heads of Federal Government agencies.
“Health care delivery worldwide is a collaborative process, with the patient as the centre of attraction. Every professional has a role to play to ensure optimum patient care. There is nothing fantastic about Nigeria’s health care sector today under the leadership by coercion of NMA.
“It is an open secret that our healthcare sector is in shambles today, due largely to undue territoriality that is the hallmark of Nigerian doctors as against the need to strengthen professionalism.
“In developed societies, every health professional has a defined role to play in the delivery of health care. The medical doctor by his training makes a diagnosis, the pharmacist makes drugs available following the principle of rational drug therapy and pharmaceutical care, the medical laboratory scientist works hard to ensure laboratory tests are carried out to aid diagnosis.
“There is also a role for dieticians, physiotherapists and others, all collaborating for optimum patient care and better patient outcomes, in line with international best practice. We make bold to say that virtually every professional in the health care sector, especially the pharmacist, is highly skilled.
“Pharmacists are even fewer than the medical doctors (compare 40,000 doctors to 20,000 pharmacists) in Nigeria and this is because of the extensive and rigorous training we undergo”, he said.
The association noted that her members were in support of the planned harmonisation of health care workers’ salaries, adding that the move would restore peace to the sector.
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