NMA - Health workers will avoid Japa if welfare packages are improved.

The Nigerian Medical Association's chapter in Ondo State has urged the state government to enhance member welfare and prevent members from leaving the state.

In order to deter the current brain drain that has affected the healthcare industry, the group urged the government to enact the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, a better pay structure, for all healthcare sectors.

At an event marking the 2024 Physicians Week in Akure, the state capital, Olumuyiwa Alonge, the state chairman of the NMA, spoke to reporters on Tuesday. He blamed the state's poor service conditions for the exodus of health workers and urged the government to improve the welfare of state health workers.

The celebration's sub-themes included "Mitigating the impact of infectious diseases: addressing the monkeypox outbreak and beyond" and "Early detection of breast cancer and current trends in the management of breast cancer." This year's theme was "Ensuring universal applicability in remuneration: a panacea to talent retention in the healthcare system."

Healthcare workers will feel appreciated and respected when they receive fair and equitable compensation, which will increase their commitment to patient care, according to Alonge.

"We implore all governmental levels to guarantee the consistent application of our pay structure, the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, at all levels of healthcare," he stated. Additionally, we demand that any unpaid wage upgrade arrears be promptly paid, including the new minimum wage.
We have noticed a concerning trend in recent years: our most qualified and experienced medical professionals, who are the backbone of our healthcare system, are fleeing Nigeria in droves in search of better prospects elsewhere, with no exceptions made for our beloved state. This widespread departure, sometimes referred to as "brain drain," is a result of a system that has failed to provide compensation and job fulfilment, rather than just being a result of personal choices.

More than merely a pay scale, fair compensation serves as a precaution against burnout, a drive for performance, and an acknowledgement of our worth. Time and emotional energy are reflected in appropriate compensation in the healthcare industry. A healthcare worker feels appreciated and respected when they receive fair compensation. Consequently, this admiration increases their commitment, fortifies their commitment to patient care, and fortifies the larger health ecosystem.
Many medical professionals, including doctors, are overworked and underpaid, and salary disparities are visible not only nationwide but also within comparable healthcare facilities. In the end, these discrepancies increased the burden on those who stayed behind to serve by discouraging young and skilled healthcare workers from joining or remaining in the workforce.

The chairman also argued that in addition to paying salaries, the government ought to enhance working conditions for healthcare professionals because doing so will assist keep skilled individuals in the field.