Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern about the negative impact of strike on nation’s health sector. He said that while agitations for better conditions of service by healthcare professionals are and will continue to be a necessary and legitimate expression, medical personnel should show greater understanding with government and work together towards solving the problems and tension in the health sector.
Buhari, while declaring open the 58th general conference and delegates meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association in Abuja, represented by his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, stated that the nation’s healthcare sector had been troubled for a long time and one of the manifestations is the low spending in health infrastructure.
He said the problem with the healthcare sector includes poor funding, the problems in the North-East and the threat of spread of diseases.
The insurgency in the North-East brought the already troubled health sector to its knees.” Buhari said that the implementation of the basic healthcare provision fund would commence soon in three pilot states of Abia, Niger and Osun states with plans to scale it up by 2019.