The Nigerian Medical Association, Edo State branch, yesterday, appealed to the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, to ensure that residents have access to affordable and accessible health care, which would protect them from quack doctors.

The association also tasked the governor to reduce taxes on private medical practitioners in the state friendly and remain in the country.

The Chairman, Edo NMA, Dr. Udoka Imoisili, made the appeal while addressing journalists during the 2023 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference (AGM&SC) of the association in Benin City.

Imoisili, who emphasised the need for quality healthcare services for all residents in the state, tasked the state government to collaborate with healthcare stakeholders in the state to achieve the mandatory health insurance, using Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS), particularly in the face of current economic challenges.

She said quackery flourishes due to the absence of a well-coordinated and implemented health insurance to the detriment of the people, the healthcare practitioners and the government.

Imoisili said: “Out of pocket payment for healthcare services, particularly in the face of current economic challenges, drives most residents to patronise quacks, resulting in preventable morbidities and mortalities.

“Edo NMA is set to collaborate with Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHiS) and the general public to put an end to the menace of quackery.”

Imoisili said Edo NMA is committed to ensuring that all indigenes have access to health care, noting that the poor health indices in the state and nation is multifactorial, and can be largely attributed to the inability to afford health care, among others.

According to the chairman, Out of pocket payment for health care, especially with the current economic hardship in the country, occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, will do citizens no good.

She added: “Edo NMA has done an appraisal of prevalent health challenges alongside the impediments to achieving universal health coverage. It has, therefore, saddled itself with the task of providing answers to the problem of poor health indices and quackery in the society.”