Osun Govt Moves To Forestall Further Brain Drain In Health Sector, Approves Payment of CONMESS, CONHESS

With a view to preventing brain drain in the health sector, Osun State Government has increased the salary of medical practitioners in the state.

After eight years of agitation, the state government on Tuesday approved the implementation of 100 percent payment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for all categories of health workers in the state.

The CONMESS is applicable to medical and dental officers, Medical Consultants and Veterinary Officers, while the CONHESS is applicable to all health professionals and health workers in the Ministry of Health and in all the state health facilities under the Hospitals Management Board.

Speaking on the development, the Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, described the increment as timely and humane.

He said it is in furtherance of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s promise to revamp the health sector and  prioritise workers’ welfare in the state.

Isamotu noted that the new salary structure would go a long way to improve on the general welfare of health workers, thus encouraging improved service delivery.

The health commissioner who recalled some of the challenges facing the health sector, said the issues of losing medical doctors to greener pastures abroad would now be a thing of the past.

“This is a thing of joy for us in the health sector in particular and in the state at large as the gesture would put a permanent end to some of the challenges facing us.

“As we all know, the agitation for the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure known as CONMESS and Consolidated Health Salary Structure known as CONHESS had been on for close to eight years now, and with this approval, our doctors and other health workers would begin to live a better life.

“We have lost many Medical Officers, Consultant Physicians, Surgeons, Pharmacists, Gynaecologists and lots more to other hospitals due to the inability of past administration  to implement these new salary structures. 

” Mr. Governor’s gesture will not only prevent brain drain but make the health sector more attractive, appealing and rewarding to the health practitioners.

“With the approval of the revised CONMESS and CONHESS, the state can now compete favourably with our peers anywhere in the country. 

“So, I must commend Mr. Governor on this feat as this would go a long way to redefine the health sector for efficiency, proficiency and effectiveness”, Isamotu added.