HEALTH WORKERS STRIKE MAY LINGER FOR LONG.

By Fabian Anawo

As the strike embarked on by non physician health workers enters the fourth day, it seems it will linger on for some time to come.

This is because the outgoing administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has not call them to the negotiation table.

The Incoming government too has not made any pronouncement about the strike.

The striking workers on the other hand are ready to stay away from work for as long as it will take to resolve their demands.

The strike is just three days old, as it started on Thursday. The effect will be felt from next week when people go to hospitals and there are no Laboratory Scientists to attend to them, when medicines are prescribed and there are no pharmacists to dispense them.

With the battle line drawn, it is the masses that will suffer it, just like the saying, “when two elephants fight it is the grass and the trees that suffer.”

The striking workers are not happy with alleged discrimination against them.

They complained about discrimination in wages, allowances, progression in the office and many more, even when they are not second class professionals.

The National Vice President of the Joint Health Sector Workers Union, JOHESU, Dr. Obinna Ogbonna alleged that for years leaders of the Health Ministry, who have been physicians in the past twelve years have ensured that non physician health workers are stagnated.

He cited the case of the Consultant Pharmacy Cadre as an example.

According to Dr. Ogbonna, as far back as 2011, the National Council on Establishment approved the Consultant cadre for Pharmacists and in 2020 and 2021, official circulars were issued from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for its implementation only for the Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire to stop it.

He said that in 2021, Dr. Osagie Ehanire directed the Board of the University College Hospital, Ibadan to terminate the Consultant status of all non-physician health professionals.

Dr. Ogbonna wondered why doctors would rise to the peak of their carrier and blocked others from doing so, saying that the ongoing strike will continue until all such discriminations and those of salaries and allowances are addressed.

According to him, one of the areas that has showcased the reign of tyranny of Physician – Health Minister in contemporary times is the disgraceful methodology with which they have suppressed every attempt of non-physician health professionals to diversify and expand their knowledge base by refusing to accord them recognition when they bag Post-graduate Degrees and Fellowship.

Meanwhile, he said that the Niger State Government introduced the Consultant cadre in Pharmacy practice as far back as 2013. Other States like Edo, Osun have followed suit. Two Pharmacists Consultants were appointed at the Aso Rock Villa Clinic in May, 2023

Thus, they demand that in line with the official circulars for Consultants cadre in Pharmacy practice in the public sector, all the Federal Health Institutions must appoint at lease fifteen (15) Pharmacists Consultants in each Teaching Hospital, while the Federal Medical Centre and its equivalents must have at least ten (10) Pharmacist Consultants.

They called for the immediate and Unconditional Implementation of the Approved Consultation Cadre Circular of Pharmacists in all FHIs and Payment of Specialist Allowances to Deserving Health Professionals:

Also, they want the immediate approval and implementation of the Technical Committee Report on CONHESS adjustment, immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers.