Abuja — The Federal Government yesterday decried the rivalry amongst medical doctors, pharmacists and nurses in Nigeria. It said the situation is threatening the healthcare delivery system and hampering Nigeria's march towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

The battle for supremacy amongst these professionals, THISDAY learnt, has not only affected the day to day running of various health facilities but posing a great threat to the National Health Insurance Scheme meant to revolutionise healthcare delivery in the country.

Minister of Health, Dr. Hassan Lawal stated this at a one day advocacy workshop organised by the Committee of Registrars of Health the Professions (CRHP) in Abuja . Lawal who sued for an end to the rivalry said that harmony and collaboration amongst the various healthcare professionals including nurses, laboratory scientists and radioghraphers has become of utmost importance since efficient healthcare delivery could only be achieved under a regime of team work.

He commended the new initiative of the Committee of Registrars of the Health Professions in coming together stressing that the purposeful collaboaration of these regulatory bodies representing thirteen professional groups in the health sector was a positive development towards teamwork.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health had always emphasised the need for harmony and collaboration among the various professionals in the sector as a basis for ensuring and sustaining a healthy population.

The pursuit of the health related components of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and their achievement is greatly dependent on the understanding and collaboration of the various healthcare professions. The time when the various parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Health worked independently of each other or even at cross purposes is gone and gone for good,î Lawal said.

Former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi said healthcare delivery anywhere i the world is a collective responsibility and ìthere is an urgent need for cohesion, harmony and respect for one another among the various health care professionals. He reminded the health care workers that they all have a common role to play in ensuring the wellbeing of the patient and the maintenance of a sound health care delivery system.

Adelusi-Adeluyi said the one year mandatory period of housemanship or internship for some of the healthcare professions should be effectively utilised in initiating the practical integration of the various professions in healthcare facilities towards delivering integrated health care services. He recommended a situation where all professionals undergoing internship are subjected to seminars in the healthcare facility