RESIDENT DOCTORS ASK FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE HEALTH BUDGET TO 15 PERCENT

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged the Federal Government to increase the budgetary allocation for the health sector from the present 5% in the 2022 budget to a figure closer to 15% as recommended at the 2001 Abuja declaration for health financing in Africa.

The doctors made the appeal in a communique issued yesterday following their National Executive Council(NEC) meeting tagged ABUJA 2022 WITH THE THEME, CHANGING FACES AND PHASES OF COVID-19: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS.
NARD said the improvement in budgetary allocation will not only help to improve their welfare but will also contribute to reducing the brain drain said to be experienced by health workers in the country.

The NEC also noted that the Federal Government has paid the withheld August and September 2021 salaries to its members and the 2021 Medical Residency Training Fund MRTF, but complained that some members were yet to receive payment of their omitted 2020 MRTF, thereby calling for quick action on the payment before the 2021 fiscal year runs out in March 2022.