The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has expressed the federal government’s commitment to health workers.

He noted that the government has started a very constructive partnership with all health associations in the country.

Mr Pate said this to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, during an event on the Renewed Hope for Nigeria’s Health and Social Welfare. 

The event was followed by a three-day Ministerial Briefing, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare from September 7 to 9.

The event was on the realities of the health and social welfare sector which is beginning to create an ambitious, yet realistic blueprint, for Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He said that strikes by health workers in the country were often caused by a combination of factors, including poor working conditions, low salaries, non-payment of salaries, lack of job security, and poor leadership and management.

He said that addressing these issues was critical to preventing future strikes and improving the healthcare system in the country.

“The issue with the health workers going on strikes is an issue dating back so many years ago. 

“This is linked to trust as we have met with four health workers associations and all their demands were very constructive.

“They are all Nigerians; They all share in the pains.

“All the health workers associations say we need to rebuild trust amongst various actors and there are some specific outstanding issues that are in the process of being resolved. Some of these issues have actually been resolved.

“They are mostly issues that have to do with salaries and wages, and not necessarily issues of the ministry of health. It is between the labour ministry and ourselves,” he explained.

The minister said that part of the vision of the ministry was to work with health workers associations until they get to a period of harmony.

“We will agree on those issues that are possible and when we disagree, it will be done respectfully,” he said.

Recall that the health workers are demanding the immediate approval and implementation of the technical committee’s report on the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), and adjustment by the government.

They are also demanding immediate payment of the omission and shortfall in the COVID-19 hazard/inducement allowances of affected health workers in federal health institutions.

Other demands are “the immediate and unconditional implementation of the pharmacist consultants cadre, unconditional payment of all withheld salaries of workers of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the and outstanding April and May 2018 salaries of members of staff of FMC, Azare.”

The union also called for the speedy implementation of the increase in the retirement age of doctors from 60 to 65 years and 70 years for consultants in health professionals.

(NAN)