Medical Workers Decry N1tn Expended on Medical Tourism

The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has decried the about N1 trillion spent annually by Nigerians seeking medical treatment abroad, saying it is a minus for the nation’s economy.

The outgoing President of the union, who is also President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the figure captures the state of decay of the nation’s infrastructure despite that the union is consistently advocating for investment into the health sector.

Wabba called for proper funding, equipment, and recruitment of trained professionals into the health sector particularly the primary health sector, which accounts for 70 per cent health care requirements.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 9th National Delegates Conference of the union in Abuja recently, Wabba urged the federal and state governments to provide universal health coverage through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He advised that the coverage be extended to rural areas.

Giving account of his stewardship as MHWUN President, Wabba disclosed that the union in the last two years has filed financial returns of over N2 billion with the Registrar of Trade Unions in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

“Of course we know of a sister union that got over N7 billion from the terminal benefits of over 46000 of its members laid off in the name of privatisation. We are not referring to such illegal and immoral deductions,” he said.

Wabba added that the union has never taxed or levied its members who are leaving on voluntary or involuntary retirement, or levied its members when they receive higher wages, as the monthly dues are for improving the well being of the members.

Deputy President of the NLC, Comrade Peters Adeyemi in his goodwill message, said the congress would not support any state government that has refused to pay workers salaries.

“We did not partake in the mismanagement of the economy, so we cannot partake in austerity measures,” he said.

Adeyemi also appealed to aggrieved members from he last delegate conference of the NLC elections to return to the Congress.

“Nigerians at this time, more than ever, needs a more united NLC….If we try again, those who lost today can be winners tomorrow,” he added.