President Jonathan Assures On Quick End To Unhealthy Rivalries In Health Sector

BEVERLY HILLS, December 19, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Jonathan pledged Friday in Abuja that the Federal Government will act expeditiously on the report of the Presidential Committee of Experts on Inter-Professional Relationship in the Public Health Sector to end “unhealthy rivalries” among healthcare professionals.

Receiving the report of the committee, which was headed by former Head of Service, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, President Jonathan said the Federal Government will review the report immediately with a view to issuing a white paper on it and beginning the implementation of its accepted recommendations early next year.

“I had to set up the committee because I am very sad, and I know most Nigerians feel very sad that strikes and unhealthy rivalries among professionals in the health sector have adversely affected medical services,'' the President said.

President Jonathan said he was optimistic that the implementation of the committee's accepted recommendations will help to end unhealthy rivalries and incessant strikes in the public health sector, which, according to him, had unfortunately created an atmosphere of uncertainty in the sector, leaving many people with fewer options for quality medical services.

Yayale told the President that the committee identified 50 areas of conflict after receiving memoranda and interacting with about 40 professional bodies in the public health sector and members of the public.

He said the areas of conflicted were broadly categorised into organisational management, leadership and team work, remuneration and motivation, career management, capacity building, professional practice, labour, legal and governance issues.

Yayale said the committee has made far-reaching recommendations to resolve conflicts in the sector.