THE Trade Union Congress (TUC) has attributed the mass exodus of health workers from Enugu State to the alleged non-implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) by the state government.
The Federal Government had in December 2009 approved CONHESS for health workers with state governors, expected to domesticate it in their various states.
However, Mr Chukwuma Igbokwe, Chairman, TUC in Enugu State, disclosed that the implementation was yet to commence in the state.
Igbokwe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu that “the implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) was long overdue in the state.
He said it was key to the successful implementation of the State Government Health Agenda.
He said the non implementation of CONHESS in the state was responsible for the mass exodus of health professionals from the state.
“The congress appeals to Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to take a critical look at this matter and ensure that CONHESS is implemented as soon as possible,” Igbokwe said.
According to him, government’s intervention will halt the mass exodus of health professionals to neighbouring states and Federal health institutions where CONHESS is being implemented.
“It will also solve the problem of discrimination in the health sector, considering the fact that CONHESS has been implemented for the doctors.
“It is our position that no health profession is superior to the other because they all function together,’’ he said.
Igbokwe, however, commended the state government for improving health structures in the state and equipping them with drugs and vaccines.