The Nature of Competition and Conflicts among Health Professionals in Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the presence and nature of competition and conflicts among health professionals in Nigeria. Forty-five (45) health professionals, made up of 15 nurses, 15 pharmacists and 15 physicians, five from each profession per hospital, randomly selected from University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan (Southern Nigeria); Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH (Central Nigeria); and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, UMTH (Northern Nigeria) responded to a self-administered questionnaire. Also two “knowledgeable” and active senior members or leaders in each of these professions responded to questions in a structured interview, giving response rates of 100% and 100% respectively. The data were grouped and analysed using percentages. The three professional groups involved in the survey agreed on the presence of competition and conflicts among health professionals in Nigeria: Nurses 100%, pharmacists 100%, and physicians 80%. They also agreed that extent of competition and conflicts called for serious intervention from government or policy makers: Nurses 80%, pharmacists 86.7%, physicians 66.7%; competition was unhealthy and counterproductive: Nurses 73.3%, pharmacists 93.3%, physicians 86.7%. Key issues in competition included struggle to be accepted as “most important” profession in health care; struggle for leadership posts in the health care system, and parity in remuneration. From results of the study, there was an unhealthy and counterproductive competition and conflicts among health professionals in Nigeria. The nature of the competition included self-rating as “most important”, leadership posts in the health care system, and parity in remuneration. It is logical that government should tame the competition with measures that are based on equity, transparency, social justice and fairplay, as well as provide “bright and full opportunities” for all citizens that work in the health care system, as reflected in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Keywords: Competition, conflicts, health professionals, Nigeria.

Nigerian Hospital Practice Vol. 2 (2) 2008: pp. 42-48