Only 35,000 medical doctors attend to over 200M Nigerians – Senator Moro

Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, has expressed concern that only 35,000 Medical Doctors are availlable to attend to the health challenges of over 200m Nigerians.

Speaking with newsmen at the Public Hearing and Presentation of Memoranda on the Bill establishing the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, on Monday, organised by Senate Committee on Health, the Senator said the situation was scary, and ridiculous for Nigeria as a nation.

He said, “By 2017, JAMB came out to say that out of all the Nigerian children that applied for medicine and other allied programs, they could only admit 20%, meaning that 80% of Nigerians waiting to read Medicine were left out because they don’t have space.

“This is what the University of Health Sciences will bridge; create more spaces for Nigerian students to read medicine and other allied personnel in to the medical market.

“I think this Bill is very significant. Establishment of the institution is also very important, at the end Nigerians will benefit from it. For us, it is important that a very vital institution like this is situated in our domain.

“Secondly, like I said, from available statistics we have 72,000 registered Medical Doctors and out of this figure, only 35, 000 are practicing. The implication is that only that number is superintending over the health of over 200m Nigerians.”

The Bill, which was sponsored by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, in the 8th National Assembly was passed but could not be assented to by the President.

Senator Moro said he reintroduced the Bill in the 9th National Assembly, in tandem with the rules.

“It wasn’t refusal of Presidential assent, it wasn’t also because it did not get concurrence, the Bill was passed in the 8th Assembly sponsored by my predecessor, H.E., Senator David Mark.

“The rules of the Senate are such that if a Bill passes through all these processes but unable to be transmitted to the President for assent and there was no assent, it starts the Novo subsequently, and that is the reason why the President has approved the establishment of the University.

“I took it upon myself as Senator representing the people, I brought it up again and we started De Novo. This is the final leg.

“The Third Reading reflects the final leg of the process. With the goodwill of the Nigerian People, the Nigerian Senate and members, this Bill will scale through and we will have enough time to transmit to the president for assent.”