No More Funding Of Overseas Medical Trips For Government Officials

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28 (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has declared that it would no longer provide funds for any government official to travel abroad for medical attention on cases that could be handled in the country.

This was revealed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the opening ceremony of the 56th Annual General Conference and delegates meeting of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, in Sokoto.

Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said his administration would not encourage expending hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad.

“While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria,” he said

He called on health professionals to avoid imbibe the spirit of team work adding that inter-professional crises had impacted negatively on the nation's healthcare delivery system.

“We have seen the hazards that this unfortunate and highly preventable problems have caused to the quality of health care delivery in Nigeria,” he said.

“May I employ members of NMA to always imbibe the spirit of team work to ensure harmonious relationship with other health professionals, no profession can effectively and efficiently function without the other.

“Government will review all previous agreements and take reasonable decisions that will not infringe on the right of the workers and also invest in programmes that will improve capacity of all cadres of health workers.”

Story by David Oputah