Association decries high cost of equipment, members no longer afford forex rate

The Association of Radiologists in Nigeria (ARIN) has said that the biggest challenge facing the association is the high cost of equipment to work with.

The newly-elected National President of the association, Prof. Olalekan Oyinloye,said this at a dinner and award ceremony to mark the closing session of the 6th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 60th AGM of the Association of Radiologists in West Africa (ARAWA) in Abuja.

Oyinloye, who is also a consultant radiologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), stated that the exchange rate of Naira to dollars had made it more difficult for the association to acquire some of the equipment.

He particularly mentioned equipment like the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine for $6 million, which the association could not afford.

“There is also what is called a computed tomography machine; if you want to buy a new one, we will be talking about about $500,000, so the basic challenge we have is in the equipment.

“The other equipment that you can’t divorce is power. An MRI is a machine that has what is called the high-fead, which is supposed to produce the best image, and you have to power this equipment for 365 days in a year. You know what that means in Nigeria.

“You cannot afford to switch off the light; otherwise, it will malfunction. That is a big challenge; in most cases, even when they have the capacity, maintaining it 24 hours a day is a big challenge, so I think these are the two major challenges we have.

“The ‘Japa syndrome’ is a big problem; doctors are moving in droves, and almost virtually every month somebody must move.

“Let me use this example: some of my trainings are very good crops; I think they finished in 2016 and 2017. I can tell you that about six of them have Japa; only one of them is left in the country.

*A lot of the middle workers are also moving to Saudi Arabia, the UK, and everywhere; it is a serious challenge. If this trend continues, I have to be frank with you, it is a big problem for the medical profession,” Oyinloye said.

He said that the training that most of the radiologists had put seven years into was meant to serve the country for a purpose, adding that the countries the medical workers were moving to might even have more personnel than Nigeria.

The consultant radiologist said some of these challenges were discussed during the AGM and called on the federal government to live up to its responsibilities and stop the trend.

He called for the provision of sophisticated equipment to enable radiologists to do their work.

He also asked for an increase in their remuneration and the provision of regular training for the set of people, saying that with the provision of these, medical doctors would stay back in the country.

Dr. Agaja James, the newly-elected Vice President 1, also reiterated the need for the government to do more for medical doctors.

James, who was also the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the AGM, said he was not encouraged because of the situation in the health sector, adding that it lacked most of the equipment required to work by the doctors.

He also decried the situation where most medical doctors were emigrating from the country and called on the government to do the needful.

“As for me, I am not going anywhere.

Considering my age and the years I have spent in this profession, I don’t think I am going anywhere. I am patriotic and committed to Nigeria; all the training I had was in Nigeria. I am still hopeful that Nigeria will be better.

“Radiologists are being carried along in the field of medicine; radiology is a profession that has doctors; we make the diagnosis for the clinicians from head to toe.

“Radiologists can tell you the problem either through our basic x-ray, ultrasound, computed thermography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and many others that are readily available in every part of the country.

“You cannot do without radiologists; a radiologist will tell you exactly what the problem is; our message for the Federal Government is to give us an enabling environment where all this equipment is made available, functional electricity, and adequate remuneration.