By Admin:
Kwara State government has approved the revised 2024 Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors
to enhance manpower retention in the health sector in the State.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board (KWHMB), Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the board in Ilorin.
He said the policy aims to reduce brain drain and encourage medical personnel to return to the State’s healthcare system.
The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Abdulraheem Abdulmalik, said that the board could not find doctors to recruit to work under the state government, despite approval given by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to recruit new doctors.
Blaming the situation on the ‘japa syndrome’, the Executive Secretary said, “We have approval of His Excellency to recruit doctors, but we can’t just find the doctors to recruit. Doctors are hot cakes now. If a doctor resigns in the morning, he will get another job in the afternoon”.
Abdulmalik, who said that the state government presently has only 99 doctors as against the required 180 to 200 medical personnel for the state, added that only 96 medical doctors were on the government’s payroll before.
“The three medical doctors who left the service returned after the recent increase in doctors’ salaries by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“We actually had 96, but after His Excellency increased the salary, three of them who ‘japa’ came back. So, we have 99 right now. We’re expecting more at the moment. We need about 180 to 200 medical doctors,” he said.
Dr . Malik explained that the vision of the KWHMB is to become a leading provider of high-quality secondary healthcare services throughout the State.
“The Board aspires to create a healthcare system where every citizen has equitable access to timely, effective, and preventive care through innovation, strategic oversight, and a strong sense of accountability,” he said.
He emphasized the administration’s commitment to climate-smart healthcare solutions, including the integration of renewable energy systems and sustainable water solutions.
According to him these initiatives aim to ensure uninterrupted and environmentally friendly healthcare services,which included the installation of solar systems at the General Hospital in Offa and the Cottage Hospital in Adewole, as well as other facilities in Ajase Ipo, Eruku, Tsaragi, and Isin local government areas among others.
Dr. Malik also highlighted that the primary focus of the administration is capacity building and training for healthcare professionals.
