It is a known fact that intra-professional rivalry is one of the issues bedeviling the Nigerian Health sector aside other issues of poor funding. etc.
Recently the issue has gotten to boiling point but the institutional memory that would be implanted in the new products of each health workforce group appears to be eroding. The generation that don't know what and how things are have been produced. Some laboratory scientist think it is not out of place to diagnose, investigate and treat by them alone likewise some Pharmacists want to diagnose and treat in there shops.
Such unhealthy rivalry have costed Nigeria dearly. Such rivalry fought the National Health Bill(NHB) to almost standstill just because of two clauses millions we deprived of benefit of NHB. It is a recurrent factor in appointment of Health Ministers. The cacophony usually is that Minister must be anybody in health sector but must have managerial skills. Most of them would not even quote the NIM Act(the act regulate those in managerial positions) to know who a manager should. Many of such commentators would rush to cite US and UK examples forgetting such countries have statutory offices of Surgeon General and Chief Medical Officer.
The voice and agitation against the Ahmed Yayale Report has not simmered notwithstanding it is the this ugly issue the committee was meant to address.
Nigeria policy maker must look the way of International Labour Organisation(ILO) which Nigeria is a member. According to ILO the health workforce include Physicians, Nurses, midwifes,dentists,Pharmacists, laboratory workers, environmental &public health workers and health management and support staff etc. However the classification is based on skill level and skill specialization meaning all is not classified at the same pedestal. The professionals are Physicians, Nurses& Midwifes and Pharmacists while technicians and associate professionals include medical assistants, dental assistant, physiotherapists, opticians and sanitarians etc.
How gradually did our qualifications in Nigeria did not match international classification is topic for another discussion.Now there are degrees classified as associate professional internationally spending as much as 5 years seeking to be place on same pedestal as pharmacists or even doctors.
Interestingly, those privy to Ahmed Yayale report know that the committees toe the path of international best practices. Why are people opposing International best practices?
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