By Muhammadu Sabiu
In a significant move aimed at improving healthcare services in Kaduna State, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, the Governor of Kaduna State, has approved the immediate implementation of the 2014 Consolidated Medical Salary Scale (CONMESS) for resident doctors working under the Kaduna State Ministry of Health.
This decision was made during a media chat held on Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, as part of the governor’s 100 days in office celebration.
The announcement comes after extensive negotiations with striking doctors, which revealed that resident doctors in the Ministry of Health were receiving only 75% of the 2014 CONMESS, while their counterparts at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital enjoyed 100% of the CONMESS.
Starting in September 2023, this approval ensures that resident doctors in the Ministry of Health will now be on par with their peers at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, potentially boosting productivity and attracting more medical professionals to the state.
Governor Uba Sani also disclosed during the live media chat, broadcast across major radio stations in Kaduna, that the recruitment of 89 medical doctors was authorised to address the staffing gap identified in 2017.
This initiative reflects the administration’s commitment to enhancing doctors’ morale and improving access to quality healthcare for Kaduna residents.
Furthermore, Governor Sani emphasised the administration’s dedication to primary healthcare, noting the recent distribution of advanced medical equipment to upgraded primary health centres, aimed at ensuring every citizen or resident has access to primary healthcare within a kilometre of their residence.