Health Ministry Not For Doctors Alone – Medical Scientists

Mr Manason Rubainu, President, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has said the post of the minister of health should not be restricted to medical doctor’s.  Rubainu made the suggestion while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday. He said the call made by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for a minister of health to be a medical doctor was unfortunate.

He said the call was unnecessary and could not serve any useful purpose to the health sector.

“It serves as a parochial interest which makes the ministry of health less useful to the people.  “NMA does not understand that the ministry of health is an institution of the society and one of the political structures of governance that provides service to the citizenry.

“It is not an avenue for a professional group that will hold the country to ransom in fulfillment of self ego,’’ he said.  Rubainu said the appointment of a minister of health was beyond being a Professor of medicine but one with the expertise.  He said any discipline could produce a minister for health.  He said Prof. Eyitayo Lambo was not a medical doctor but he brought his wealth of experience, while in the office, to bear on the ministry.

“All the skills and knowledge exhibited by Prof. Lambo that was brought to bear on the functions and operations of the ministry of health cannot be learnt in the medical school.

“What the country needs is a person with passion for health of the community and who can utilise the socio-economic resources to make the ministry responsive to perform its functions,’’ he added.