PSN, NMA Collaborate To End Conflict In Health Sector

In the bid to end the discord between Nigeria Medical Association, (NMA) and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN) both health professional bodies have agreed in an implementation plan to forge ahead.

While presenting the plan to find a lasting solution to the bickering between doctors and pharmacists Tuesday in Lagos, both bodies agree that the move will help improve the health indices of Nigeria.

Speaking with newsmen, the NMA President, Dr. Francis Faduyile said; “When I was in NMA in Lagos State as the chairman, I inherited over 12 court cases and brought all of them out of court.

“We brought all the factions of health under one roof, we believe we are here in the world to improve the health of patients, adding that, the more we talk to our self, the more we understand ourselves and also, stick to international best practices for the better of all.”

Faduyile said; “We don’t need to reinvent the will in Nigeria and that is why we stick to international best practices that can move the health sector forward. But most importantly, my message to every the health sector is for us to think of the patients first because any of us at any given time can be a patient.”

He added; “If health professionals have that at the back of our mind, I am sure we will all see the improvements in the health sector. One of the questions rolled out during the response in the questionnaire, it states that pharmacists believe that doctors are working against them while doctors believe that pharmacist hate them. This is shocking because we don’t talk with ourselves. I believe, the more we know ourselves, the better the decision we make in wade off disharmony amongst ourselves.”

The NMA boss, however, spoke on Coronavirus, (COVID-19) resolved that, it is time for Nigeria to take decisive action, ” I can tell you, if Coronavirus virus gets loose in this country, the country will suffer for it. My own view and that of the NMA is that, we think it is high time the Nigerian government took that decision of closing the border to those countries that have serious high level of Coronavirus.”

Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, PSN President, however, said, today is a good day for Nigeria healthcare because as we know, medical doctors and pharmacists that represent the health care team has decided to embrace harmony to implement strategies and working relationship that would create greater relationship.

Ohuabunwa thinks that this partnership would be a major output and development in good health care outcomes for Nigerians.

He said, both the NMA and PSN believe that “If the members of the healthcare team put away anything that would cause disharmony or suspicion, they should work together and then the output will be better, the healthcare system will be better and Nigeria will be better.”

Also speaking on Coronavirus, the PSN President said, we need to intensify the measures we have taken because from the report it means that this 3rd patient flew into the country and it was recommended that she should do a self-quarantine and she then reported when she saw the symptoms.

“For me, I believe that it has worked well but I think we need to look at the point where people come from this country where the virus is because many might no longer want to do voluntary quarantine or self-quarantine so it should be compulsory.

“Supposed the people that are meant to quarantine refuse to, then what will happen, they will go about and spread the virus in the community and that can be dangerous.

So the time has come where we should demand compulsory quarantine,” Ohuabunwa added.