ABUJA, April 16 (MENA) - The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has appealed to the federal and state governments to immediately stop the casualization of doctors working in public hospitals across the country.

NMA’s first Vice-President Benjamin Olowojebutu made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

Olowojebutu contended that ending the casualization of doctors would help to check brain drain and restore sanity to the health sector.

“All doctors working in public hospitals must be given permanent and pensionable employment after a clearly defined probation period,” Olowojebutu said.

“Temporary contracts must not exceed one year,” he added.

Casualization is employing professionals on temporary or contract bases without job security, benefits or career progression.

Olowojebutu lamented that casualization had become the norm rather than the exception for medical doctors in Nigeria, particularly in state-owned hospitals and teaching institutions.

“Young doctors are hired as a locum or contract staff with no pension, no health insurance, and salaries that are slashed arbitrarily,” he said.

“Many work under this exploitative arrangement for years, with no hope of confirmation or permanent employment,” he added.

Olowojebutu urged the Nigerian government to guarantee job security and respect for rights of doctors, and improved remuneration and working conditions to enhance the health sector.

He emphasized that heads of institutions that victimize doctors should be investigated and sanctioned.

He also called for the establishment of an independent grievance redress system for medical professionals.

Olowojebutu further called for increased budgetary allocation to the health sector and ensuring transparent utilization of funds to boost quality, accessible and efficient healthcare services for citizens. (MENA)

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