NMA urges FCTA not to terminate concession agreement with NISA Medical Group

By Matthew Eloyi

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), FCT Chapter has urged the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) not to abruptly terminate the management concession agreement between it and the NISA Medical Group.

It was learned that NISA manages the General Hospital, Garki, Abuja, on behalf of the FCTA under a 15-year concession agreement.

Dr Enema Amodu, Chairman of the NMA FCT, made the appeal on Friday at a press conference, adding that the FCT Administration’s one-month termination notice to the NISA Medical Group was not a fair one.

He said it had also become necessary to shelve the planned contract termination because some NMA members and other medical personnel in the hospital were currently undergoing post-graduate programmes in the hospital , in addition to the freshly graduated doctors who were also doing their housemanship in the facility.

In his words, “On the abrupt termination of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between the NISA Medical Group and the FCTA at Garki hospital, the NMA FCT totally and completely rejects the position of the FCTA.

“FCTA move will terminate the post-graduate medical training of doctors, as well as internship programmes of doctors, pharmacists and nurses who are currently running their programmes in the institution.

“These prgrammes require a definite period for proper completion and exit. These accredited programmes are supervised by the highly exalted National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria and other similar international bodies.’’

If the FCTA was terminating the concession agreement due to an alleged N131 million owed by the NISA Medical Group, Amodu suggested that all parties meet to settle the issue.

He urged the FCTA to change its stance on the contract’s termination.

According to Amodu, the NMA FCT has noted with dismay the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria’s haphazard and irregular assignment of house officers to the hospital.

He emphasized the association’s concern with the practice, emphasizing the importance of the mandated housemanship time for new medical school graduates.

He advocated for reorganizing the process to ensure a smooth transfer and placement of medical doctors.

Amodu remarked that the current scenario was undesirable and that it fell short of the desired goal’s expectations, claiming that the central posting had created a larger problem.

He suggested that the Federal Ministry of Health return to the prior situation of allowing institutions to hire and pay doctors in order to avoid the unnecessary delays that are currently occurring.

The NMA FCT Chairman further suggested that the proposed new hazard allowance be applied to all medical doctors and health workers, regardless of their duty status.

He claimed that every health care worker was exposed to the risks of the profession wherever he worked and, as a result, deserved to be compensated appropriately.

Mr Moses Ebute (SAN), Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, Abuja chapter, who was also present at the press briefing, slammed the FCTA’s one-month notice to NISA Medical Group.

The legal profession was particularly concerned, he said, because the FCTA’s use of the term “abrupt termination” implies that the contract was terminated without further discussion.

If the NISA Medical Group is unable to vacate the premises within the one-month notice provided by the FCTA, he said it should not be evicted because the one-month notice is insufficient.