The Kwara  Government on Thursday advised the national body of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to give the state government the required 21-day notice before embarking on  any industrial  action.

The Kwara Head of Service, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed, said this when he received   executive members of the state chapter of the association in his office in Ilorin.

Mohammed said that the state government was against the proposed strike by members of the NMA.

He urged the association to give a 21-day notice which would allow the government and the association to negotiate on their demands before the commencement of any strike.

According to him, what the NMA is contesting for at the federal level does not affect the medical doctors in the state's  civil service.

The Head of  Service said that the present administration of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed had  a healthcare policy of  500-metre access to healthcare by all residents.

He also said   the state government had  put in place a Community Health Insurance Scheme as well as embarked on a  comprehensive renovation of five General Hospitals.

Mohammed further called for greater understanding by members of the association in the face of dwindling revenue to the state. 

      
Earlier, the Chairman of Kwara  Chapter of NMA, Prof. Mikhail  Buhari,  represented by the Vice Chairman, Dr  Kunle Olawepo,  said  its proposed strike was necessitated by  the Federal Government's  inadequate funding of the health sector.

Buhari, however,  commended the state government  on  its achievements in the health sector.