By Ushang Ewa
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in prosecuting arrested quack medical practitioners across the country in other to serve as a deterrent to others.
NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said this on Thursday in Calabar during the opening ceremony of the `Physicians Week 2018’ with the theme `Universal Health Coverage: Leaving No One Behind’.
Faduyile explained that in spite of NMA’s effort in eliminating quackery in the medical profession; the perpetrators of the illicit act have continued to proliferate with its attendant consequences on the health of Nigerians.
Represented by Dr. Agam Ayuk who is the the Cross River State chapter chairman, Dr. Faduyile alleged that previous efforts by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to prosecute suspects have been frustrated by security agencies saddled with the responsibilities.
According to him, the association has on record, cases where some state branches of the NMA have raised alarm on the activities of suspected quacks and impersonators but the states security agencies failed to intervene.
“In spite of NMA’s effort at eliminating or at least reduce quackery in the medical sector, the perpetrators of the illicit act have continued to proliferate with its attendant consequences on the health of Nigerians.
“Another reason for the inability of the MDCN to tackle medical quackery related practices is the inability of the Federal Government to constitute the council and its sister profession, the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria.
“The NMA as a custodian of the people’s health believes that a sector that is not well regulated is prone to quackery and this have debilitating effects on the health of our citizens,” he said.
He commended the Cross River Government for establishing the State Health Insurance Act in 2016 and the establishment of the State Health Insurance Agency as well as the Primary Healthcare Development Agency and sued for the improvement of the condition of service for health workers in the state by implementing 100 percent consolidated medical salary with a view to help the sector in achieving universal health coverage.
The State commissioner for health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, disclosed that Cross River was on the track of achieving universal health coverage through Sustainable Development Goals.
Asibong said that her ministry had inaugurated a team on fake drugs in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, adding that the objective was to eliminate cases of quackery and fake drugs in the state.
She added that the state government was currently building three referral hospitals across the state with a view to meet the health needs of the people.
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