The issue of Surgeon General (SG) has been on for a while and recently, the Federal government agreed to appoint one.
President Goodluck Jonathan may have saved Nigerians from having to experience another agonising lengthy strike action by doctors in public hospitals as he has acceded to demands by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to appoint a surgeon-general of the federation.
He has also reportedly agreed to the association’s demand that the call duty allowance of doctors running into billions of naira be sorted out and paid to them.
On the reverse, many are of the opinion that it might be politically motivated as making policies in Nigeria is a challenge while implementing them is another.
Previously, The NMA embarked on a five-day nationwide warning strike before Christmas and was determined to go on another one if the Federal Government refused to meet their demands.
The government has since met another demand by the NMA by re-constituting the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
Onyebuchi Chukwu, health minister said the “President has in principle accepted there is need for a Surgeon-General, but there is some distance between principle and practice.”
“We need to draw up the core responsibilities of a Surgeon-General,” he added, insisting that “for you to have such, then we must be like other countries that have an office that is independent and handles specific issues and matters of public health professionally, so the minister concentrates on purely administration and political decisions,” he noted.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian pharmacists under the umbrella body of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have insisted that Nigeria is not in need of a Surgeon-General. In a statement signed by Olumide Akintayo, the society’s president, PSN said appointing a Surgeon General would amount to a waste of Nigeria’s scarce resources.
“This assertion on face value is ridiculous and certainly most unconvincing because the basic tenets of medical training positions any registered medical practitioner to undertake the responsibility of ascertaining the medical fitness of individuals,” he said adding that “the information provided on the need for the post of the Surgeon-General cannot be a compelling factor to waste scarce public funds for an ego trip.”
For Maymunah Kadiri, consultant psychiatrist, Fellow of the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria, “In my own opinion, the SG, shouldn’t be appointed by the FGN, he/she has to be of good standing and strong professional background. The appointment, tenure and job description should come from the National Assembly, not politically motivated.
“So, we will have the SG separate from the Minister of Health; they have two distinct roles to play. The office of the SG is, and can only be headed by a doctor, like that of the lawyers, Attorney-General. This can pave way for other cadre in the health sector to serve as the Minister of Health, if that will still hold.
“The SG may also help to determine the public servants that will need medical treatment abroad, because right now, it’s the Head of Service or Secretary to FGN that handles it. Also, he/she will certify those fit to assume the office of public interest.
“Having a SG would also help solve the squabbles in the ministry by allowing others to head as minister for health. Also, the minister can concentrate on administration and political matters, whilst the SG deals on issues of public health importance,” she concludes.
“The office of the SG is very relevant, but we have to be clear about their role in the health system. The most important aspect of this is to involve all stake holders before going ahead with such decisions. The stakeholders apart from all healthcare professions, include the media, consumer rights, organisation and other stakeholders” said Adewale Alabi, CEO, Global Health `Project.
However, Tomori Oyewale, professor of virology and president of the Nigerian Academy of Science, opines that “where roles and duties are well spelt out and where political considerations do not override constitutional stipulations, then the position has its merits.
In the USA where there is order, the positions, duties and functions of Secretary of Health (Minister) and SGN are well spelt out. There is no conflict and there is no interference by the President. The SGN is a professional (medical doctor), the Minister of Health is a political appointee who could be of any profession. Can we guarantee that in Nigeria?
If we follow the laid down guidelines and abide by them, clearly defining the roles for the SGN and the Minister, then having someone appointed as SGN could actually leave the position of Minister of Health open to any of the health professionals- pharmacists, doctors, nurses and so on, and free the Ministry of Health the current unhealthy rivalry among the health professionals.”
By: Kemi Ajumobi
