Guild of Medical Directors of Private Hospitals in Nigeria has advocated for a National Conference for all medical stakeholders in order to resolve the lingering crisis in the health sector.
President of the guild, Tony Philips, made the observation while responding to questions from journalists in Abuja on Monday.
The conference, according to him, would enable all stakeholders in the sector tell themselves the bitter truth and resolve all the lingering issues bedevilling the progress of the sector.
He, however, disclosed that Guild of Medical Directors would hold a conference in Enugu on Thursday this week to find lasting solution to the issues surrounding medical tourism in the country.
“Over the years, medical tourism has been a problem to this country, because it tends to downplay the capability of our doctors; it also tends to portray us to the outside world that we don’t have the capability to cope with our medical problems. This is not the truth.”
The case of the governor of Kogi State showed that we have all that it takes, hence the need for the conference.”
While responding to a question on why health workers in the private hospitals don’t go on strike, he said: “In private practice, we don’t have anything like strike. This aberration is only common in Nigeria.
“In the medical circle, we have the medical team. In every civilized part of the world, the medical doctor is the head of the team. It is the only profession that cuts across every section of the health care services.
“The best thing is for us to hold a conference for all stakeholders in the health sector, just as what happened in the National Conference. We need to meet and place our grievances on the table and agree on how to sort them out. People should know their limitations.
“Respect your profession and know where your limit stops. That is why you see pharmacists today, they are treating patients. This is wrong. They have gone beyond their limitations. They should sell their drugs and that drug must be from a prescription.”
