Economy: Private doctors cry over poor patronage

MEDICAL doctors under the aegis of Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) have cried out over low patronage from patients.

And this is not that the health of Nigerians have improved that they now need less medical attention from hospitals, but solely to the recessed state of the Nigerian economy which the doctors say has reduced capacity utilisation to as low as 20 per cent.

Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen, National President of the association, speaking in Port Harcourt, recently pointed out that hospitals had never had it as bad before in the history of the country.

He lamented the high abscondment rates of patients from hospitals saying the practice was increasing number of debtor-patients, because  the bulk of our patients are out-of-pocket payers”.

He noted the high poor adherence to treatment modules, which had led to drug resistance and high cost of healthcare services, as well as patronage of quacks, prayer houses and self-medication.

The national president said the association was battered with multiple taxation by the three tiers  government, whose interest was to increase their internally generated revenue (IGR) and appealed to government to address the ugly development to save the health sector.

The doctors also decried the upsurge in abduction of doctors, especially in Rivers State saying, it was disheartening that doctors now lived and carried out their duties with fear.

They condemned the frequent kidnap of medical doctors, noting that some of their members had lost their lives in the hands of suspected kidnappers.

Dr Odafen charged government and security agencies to ensure safety of doctors by providing armed security men for medical practitioners to enable them carry out their duties effectively without fear of being abducted or killed.

He said, “Doctors are struggling people. Doctors are committed people. We practise social service for the nation.  We are appealing to the society and kidnappers to leave doctors alone.

We don’t have money.  We are struggling people. “We are appealing to the government, especially Rivers State government.  We thank the government and security agencies too.

“But, we are appealing to the government, to please, provide armed security men for doctors at their residential homes and offices.  “In the middle of the night, when people are sleeping, doctors are out taking care of patients.

“We are everywhere.  So, how would it be, if our lives are in danger? Government should see it as a responsibility to see that doctors are protected, so that they can freely carry out their services to the society unhindered,” the national president appealed.