The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter has attributed the non-implementation of the reviewed Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) by the Lagos government as a major factor driving brain drain and stark disparity in salaries between state-employed doctors and their federally employed counterparts.

The body said the healthcare sector in Lagos is currently grappling with severe human resource challenges, particularly with the shortage of medical and dental practitioners, which has reached a critical point, exacerbating the workload and leading to extreme burnout among our members.

NMA State Chapter Chairman, Dr Babajide Saheed, who spoke at its yearly general meeting and conference, demanded the immediate implementation of the reviewed CONMESS for doctors in the state as it is essential to bridging the existing salary gap and ensuring equitable remuneration.

He also called for the prompt commencement of arrangements for implementing the new minimum wage to prevent further disparities when the new salary structure is adopted.

“The non-payment of the Reviewed CONMESS by the Lagos State government on employed doctors represents a significant oversight that must be rectified immediately. We implore the government to initiate the payment without further delay,” said Saheed. The conference, themed, “Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria Amidst Multifaceted Challenges,” underscores the myriad obstacles confronting the healthcare sector in the country.

He listed the multifaceted challenges to include, acute shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure development, pervasive poverty, cultural and religious barriers, inadequate healthcare financing, and insufficient budgetary allocations.

Saheed listed others to include, interprofessional rivalries among healthcare workers and ill-informed healthcare policies, which have significantly hindered the progressive development of the healthcare sector, particularly in Lagos State.

Regarding the country’s economic challenges, the medical body implored the Federal Government to reassess its economic policies to alleviate the severe hardships faced by citizens, thereby improving the overall quality of life and preventing potential unrest.

The body also reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the welfare and security of its members, advancing medical education, and promoting excellence in medical practice across the state and country.