The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Sunday in Ilorin called on law enforcement agencies to deter regulatory bodies invading hospitals and interrupting doctors in the course of discharging their duties of saving lives.

The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NMA held in Ilorin on Sunday.

The communiqué, jointly signed by its President, Prof. Kayode Obembe, and Dr. Adewunmi Alayaki, the Secretary General of the Association, frowned at the development which it said was of recent.

The medical personnel said in the communiqué that they were worried at the rate at which regulatory bodies, apart from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) invade hospitals across the country.

“NMA appeals to the police to cooperate with us in ensuring no regulatory body apart from MDCN is allowed to come and interrupt doctors while they are on their legitimate vocation of saving lives as this constitutes distraction and interruption in the hospital environment.”

The communiqué also frowned at the incessant strike bedeviling the health sector in the country, and the government’s dismal efforts at ending the strikes.

“Supplementary allocations should be made to pay for such commitments while on a long term basis, it must be clearly defined as a budget heading in the 2016 appropriation.”

The NMA said that it was alarmed at the N250 billion the country was losing to medical tourism yearly and advised the Federal Government to fully equip tertiary health institutions with modern equipment to replace obsolete ones in the country.

The communiqué said the association was opposed to under-aged marriage which did not allow the bony system of the body to fully mature at under-age of 18.

“Scientifically, this practice should be condemned; the birth canal will be very narrow for the head of the baby to pass through during pregnancy which can lead to condition called Vesico Vaginal Fistula.

“We appeal to all men of goodwill to impress it on our government and policy makers to rescue our female children from this miserable life and ultimate disaster.”

The communiqué, while appreciating the Federal Government's efforts in combating corruption, said it was supporting the Universal Health Coverage and full implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme. (NAN)

•Photo shows Dr. Obembe.