The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) has voiced dissatisfaction with the current five per cent budgetary allocation to the health sector, emphasizing that it falls short in addressing the sector’s myriad challenges.
Speaking at the conclusion of the Association’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Uyo, President Prof. Mohammad Mohammad underscored the association’s concern that the country’s health budget remains significantly below the Abuja declaration’s recommendation of at least 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the sector.
Mohammad urged all levels of government to enhance their budgetary allocations to the health sector to align with the Abuja declaration. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for governmental strategies to strengthen the economy, thereby bolstering per capita spending on health.
Additionally, the association’s president highlighted the escalating costs of healthcare delivery due to inflation, coupled with inadequate health insurance coverage. He stressed the imperative for governments at all levels to elevate their budgetary allocation to the health sector in pursuit of the Abuja Declaration’s target of at least 15 per cent.
Mohammad also called for concerted efforts to enhance the nation’s economic landscape, subsequently augmenting per capita health spending. He urged the National Health Insurance Agency to expand its enrollment to encompass vulnerable populations and called on governments to address factors contributing to the surge in mental health disorders among medical professionals and the populace.
