Nigeria Private Medical Practitioners Lagos State Branch says No! No!! to harassment by Government Agencies.
This statement was made by the Chairman of the Association of Private Medical Practitioners ANPMP, Lagos State, Dr. Jonathan Esegine at a Press Brief held at the State Secretariat of the ANPMP in Surulere Lagos .
The Nigeria Medical Association NMA and the Association of Private Medical Practitioners ANPMP Lagos State came together to express dissatisfaction with the way medical practitioners were treated like mere criminals for performing their call to duty.
This was the core of the message passed across through the fourth estate of the realm in a recent Press Brief held at the State Headquarters in Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the ANPMP Lagos State the Chairman Jonathan Esegine said the Association kicks vehemently against such and is no longer willing to tolerate such acts of misconduct.
Dr. Esegine went on to point out several cases of harassment by Private Medical Practitioners in the State
In the same vein the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Dr Babajide Kehinde Saheed in his words said
”I address you this morning on behalf of the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State Branch, on a matter of urgent public importance that directly affects healthcare delivery in our state and, by extension, the wellbeing of our people.
Dr. Babajide Saheed went on to express the NMA’s heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have unfortunately lost their lives while receiving medical care in their facilities or elsewhere. He said “We share in their pain, and we do not take their grief lightly” because
every loss of life is deeply felt by us as medical professionals because the preservation of life remains the very essence of our calling”.
The NMA State Chairman buttressed that the essence of the meeting was basically to carry the fourth estate of the realm along on the events which have led the Association to take such a decision.
Dr. Saheed said the Association was left with no choice but to draw the attention of the public to” this disturbing and increasing harassment of Private Medical Practitioners in Lagos State by various Agencies of Government and, in some instances, by members of the public. This trend has become alarming and unacceptable”.
He said our members who devote their lives daily to the service of humanity and the saving of lives, are increasingly being subjected to intimidation, humiliation, and undue harassment while carrying out their legitimate professional duties.
He further enlightened that the harassment take several forms, including detention by the police, physical assault by members of the public, persistent social media trials and public condemnation without due process, invitations and interrogations by agencies such as the DSS and EFCC, criminal prosecutions through the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, civil suits in courts of law, and the closure of healthcare facilities by HEFAMAA, among others.
Dr. Saheed went on to clarify that indeed citizen have the right to seek redress but such should be done in line with due process going on to reiterated the various clearly established legal and regulatory pathways for channeling medical complaints which he said should be through the three basic channels saddled with the responsibility of regulatory and disciplinary measures to ensure professionalism. These bodies are : the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria,the Hospital Management or the Nigerian Medical Association.
Dr. Babajide Saheed throwing more light on this said these institutions exist precisely to ensure fairness, professionalism and accountability in line with due process.
On behalf of the medical body he reiterated “What we cannot continue to accept is a culture where doctors are subjected to arbitrary arrests, media persecution, public vilification, and institutional intimidation without recourse to the proper professional and legal channels”.No doctor goes to work with the intention to harm, injure, or cause the death of any patient.He said
In addition Dr. Saheed said “The first duty of every medical practitioner is to save life, relieve suffering, and restore health, Doctors work under difficult circumstances, often with limited resources, immense pressure, and enormous expectations, yet they continue to put the lives of patients first.
We therefore demand the immediate and total cessation of all unnecessary, unwarranted, and unlawful harassment of our members and the Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State Branch, will no longer stand by while our members are intimidated for carrying out their lawful professional responsibilities”.
The Doctors however left a window open for deliberation,collaboration and constructive engagement with government agencies, the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, and all relevant stakeholders in the interest of the Patients.
Dr. Babajide Kehinde Saheed signed off with a parting phrase “let it be known that harassment, intimidation, and extra judicial actions against doctors must stop”.
The Media Parley had in attendance Private Medical Practitioners from the various Zones and LGA’s in Lagos State, Stakeholders and the Media.