NIGERIA Medical Association, NMA, yesterday, expressed sadness over the setback suffered by the National Health Bill during its consideration by the Senate, calling on the National Assembly to quickly get the bill back on track.
The Senate had, Tuesday, disagreed over the constitutionality of the minimum of two percent allocation to the National Primary Healthcare Development Fund from the Consolidated Fund of the Federation provided in the bill.
Expressing displeasure on the development, President of NMA, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, in a statement, said: “While we note that debates are characteristic of the legislature, we, however, believe that the disagreements over the constitutionality of the minimum of two percent allocation to the National Primary Healthcare Development Fund from the Consolidated Fund of the Federation, as expressed in clause 11 of the proposed bill, should not be allowed to further deny Nigerians, majority of whom are poor, equitable access to healthcare services, especially in rural communities.”
