President Bola Tinubu has been urged to implement import responsibility and value-added tax (VAT) waivers on medication and different medical consumables.
This name was made to the president by the Ekiti State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Affiliation (NMA) on Sunday, August 11.
Based on the NMA, taking such steps would make healthcare extra accessible and inexpensive for Nigerians particularly contemplating the present hardship confronted by many throughout the nation.
Recall that the Nigerian authorities had introduced a waiver on the importation of meals objects into the nation.
This announcement got here shortly after the graduation of the nationwide protest which passed off between August 1 and 10, 2024.
Nonetheless, in a communique issued after its twenty seventh annual common assembly, the NMA stated leverage needs to be prolonged to medication and different medical consumables.
As well as, the NMA referred to as on the president to additionally implement the newly elevated capitation charges of the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA).
The affiliation additionally referred to as on the Federal Authorities to strengthen the scheme to make sure broader protection for Nigerians within the pursuit of Common Well being Protection.
Addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the chairman of NMA in Ekiti, Oreyemi Ifedayo, stated such a coverage wouldn’t solely assist cut back the spate of sudden deaths amongst Nigerians but additionally create a extra conducive surroundings for well being practitioners within the nation.
Ifedayo stated: “The AGM urges the President to make sure the implementation of import responsibility and VAT waivers on medication and medical consumables to make healthcare inexpensive for Nigerians.
“This can undoubtedly assist in stopping sudden deaths amongst Nigerians. Efforts should even be made not solely to strengthen the NHIA to cowl the vast majority of Nigerians within the pursuit of Common Well being Protection but additionally to make sure the implementation of the newly elevated NHIA charges,” he stated.