Doctors are fast losing respect and leadership role in the health sector

Doctors are fast losing respect and leadership role in the health sector Dr. Jide Idris (Lagos State Commissioner for Health)
REKNOWED for his frankness, openess and fluid grasp of issues relating to the beleaguered health sector, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris is the average reporter’s delight anyday. Friday last week, Good Health Weekly ran into the down-to-earth commissioner at the 2008 National Executive Council Meeting/AGM/ Scientific Meeting of the Lagos State branch of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.
In his characteristic style, Idris, seized the opportunity to comment on a host of salient issues. It is a must read. Enjoy!On role of doctors in the health sector
“There is no doubt that we have enormous challenges in the health sector. These problems were created over the years and not overnight. I make bold to say that the Lagos State Government has demonstrated enough commitment to addressing these and will continue to do so within the limits of resources available.
However, it is also my belief that government cannot do this alone. It requires the collective contributions from every one of us, and more importantly from members of our noble profession - the medical profession. We cannot make the badly needed changes and progress in the sector without we doctors. Sadly and regrettably so, and if we are to be sincere with ourselves, we seem to have lost or fast losing our respect and leadership role in the sector.
We do not positively contribute to policy making in the country. We are not proactive but remain continuously reactive. I also do not believe all is lost. I believe our profession must give the right leadership if we are to make any appreciable impact on the sector. To do this, we must adopt a different strategy. One that does’ not encourage unnecessary confrontation, cheap blackmail, falsehood, rabble-rousing, extieme selfishness, and disrespect to our senior colleagues. All these to me, are definitely strange to the ethics of our noble profession.
On harassment of doctors by KAI officials on environmental sanitation daysI must confess this is news to me. Medical services are essential services and doctors are expected to be on essential services. Doctors carry out essential duties and there must be way of exempting them during the sanitation. I have a feeling there might be problem of identification.
Since anyone could impersonate a doctor, I’m sure if a doctor is properly identified, I do not think there should be a problem. There is no way or reason why a doctor should be disturbed from going about his normal services of providing healthcare. I have not heard about this matter before. If it had been brought to us officially, we would have taken it up with the appropriate Ministry, but I will look into it.”
On the survivors of the fuel tanker accident at OrileFree treatment is being made available to all the survivors currently recuperating at Isolo General Hospital and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). They are being treated free of charge in line with the policy of the Lagos State government.
I am going to Isolo General Hospital and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) now to see the patients. A close relation of mine was involved in the accident and, unfortunately he is dead. But as usual, the State government will meet its obligations to those affected. We only hope we do not witness this kind of disaster again. I do not know exactly how many people died in the incident, but from the figures we have it is between eight and 10, I need to confirm.On the state of LASUTH
I went there on a visit unannounced. I spoke to the patients on their complaints and see what facilities are available and what we need to provide and I must say there were a number of things we discovered and need to address, some immediately, others we need to put in our budget for next year, because they are urgently needed, the issue of basic medical equipment is already in process following the governor’s approval and some are coming in soon, we also need to expand the laboratory and equip it properly, but this will be a priority next year. We do know there is a shortage of staff there, but we are addressing this.
On the poor state of Ayinke HouseWe have received complaints about Ayinke House, but we know that in every organisation there are bad eggs and they are things we need to accept. It is a major problem in every government. I believe you are aware of what happened recently at Massey Street Hospital. We set up an investigation committee and the panel has submitted its report and recommendations and different measures are being handed to people found wanting.
We intend to do the same thing at Ayinke House. To address things like this specifically, there is a different monitoring unit the composition of which many people do not know. We go there unannounced and just to check the state of things. More importantly however, there is need for education and re-orientation our members of staff. It is an attitude thing and you cannot change attitude overnight.
I won’t give reasons for what has happened because these are things that have happened over the years. We are currently organizing different for a to address the issue of attitudinal change withing the different cadres of the health sector. Indeed it is a problem. We are hoping to go through the professional bodies to talk to these people.
On the Coroners’ System Law
What wehave is a matter of law. There may be some misunderstanding or misrepresentation of that law. One thing that must be understood however is that the law has been passed and there are procedures and processes that are formulated in the packaging of this law. If anyone wants to change the law, there are processes that they may have to go through. What we have done is to try to sensitise the different stakeholders. Mind you, the objective of this law is not directed at any professional group at all. The objective is very clear.
It is to avoid unwanted death in our society. Different groups including the medical people have a role to play, but they need to understand what is going on. I think the law is being misinterpreted.I do not want to look at the action of the Medical Guild as a bluff because you cannot bluff the law. It is simple. If you are uncomfortable with certain aspects of that law, there are processes for effecting changes and the Federal Ministry of Justice would listen to them to look at the various areas where they are aggrieved and jointly address them.
Even the Governor cannot cancel the law. It is the House that passed the law and they went through different processes and public hearings so that those who were aggrieved opportunity to raise them before they passed the law. If the law is to be changed, they have to pass through the same process. I think it is a matter of misunderstanding or misrepresentation of certain facts which we hope to address. It is not a serious matter.”