UK Won’t Pay You Hazard Allowance – Ehanire Tells Doctors

1
124
pharmacy

The Minister of Health,  Osagie Ehanire has told doctors seeking to relocate to other countries to reconsider their decision as they won’t be paid hazard allowance in countries like UK.

Ehanire who made the remarks during the COVID-19 briefing of the Presidential Task Force, Thursday, insisted that they are working out a better welfare package for doctors in the country, expressed surprise over a recent report of 58 doctors who were prevented from leaving the country for the UK.

He added that he is not aware if the doctors eventually left the country. Ehanire said;  “We were all surprised to hear that they were at the airport. I think somehow or the other, it was irregular in that many of them did not have visas. I don’t know what evidence you have, maybe it’s a rumour that they have now left the country, I don’t know, but nobody should be leaving the country without visa.

READ
1.2m Nigerians on HIV/AIDS Treatment for Life, Says US Consul-General Pierangelo
Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire

“Those who have been trained by scholarship and they’re on a job have a moral responsibility to give back. Even now, we have large numbers of Nigerian doctors in the UK, in the United States, in Europe who apply to come every year to come and serve, even though they were not even trained here or they were not even trained at state expense.

“They have the obligation to come and give back to the community. It’s just a moral obligation. So, every year, it is called the Diaspora health professionals initiative. Some of them spend their own money and they come here, bring equipment, materials, commodities. Every year, they come and help us.

READ
COVID-19: Infection Cases Hit 288 in Nigeria – NCDC

“They really owe the country nothing, but out of a sense of obligation, which is really commendable and we are in fact trying to improve on that initiative now and to see that we get the best out of the experience and the cutting-edge knowledge and skills that they bring from abroad.

“So, even more so, those who are here, and you have been trained and you have a job, it is better to also give back to your community. And others who want to leave, Nigeria does not have a policy on restricting movement. But some countries do; some countries have that policy but we don’t.

READ
Re-assess Proposed Lagos health Scheme, Community Pharmacists Tell Ambode

Ehanire said they are trying to make sure that the remuneration is good, adding that Nigeria is one of the few countries that are actually giving this hazard allowance.

“Now, this UK where they are going to, there’s no hazard allowance. They don’t give doctors hazard allowance. You just get your salary, that’s all. I’ve spoken to doctors there and they said its part of their job, part of what they’re trained for.

But here, the Minister of Health said, apart from your salary, they try to add something to it in the hope that it will encourage people to stay

According to reports, until June, medical doctors in Nigeria earned N5,000 or $12.95 as monthly hazard allowances

 

1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here