Nigerian resident doctors begin nationwide strike
- To press home their demands, resident doctors in Nigeria have commenced a nation-wide strike
- According to the doctors, the strike will be total
- Among their demands are the provision of PPE equipment to all health workers
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Following the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum issued by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), members of the association have commenced a nationwide strike to press home their demand.
Recall that Legit.ng had reported that the doctors urged Nigerians to make alternative arrangements for their patients because the strike will be total.
Specifically, the association is demanding the following:
1. Provision of Personal Protective Equipment for all healthcare workers.
2. Immediate reversal of the illegal disengagement of all 26 resident doctors in Jos University Teaching Hospital and payment of all salaries owed them.
3. Universal Implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act in all federal and state hospitals.
Source: Depositphotos
4. Immediate implementation of the revised hazard allowance and payment of the COVID-19 inducement allowance.
5. Provision of funding for Medical Residency Training in the 2021 Appropriation bill.
6. Payment of all arrears owed our members in federal and states tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential adjustment of the National minimum wage.
7. Stoppage and immediate refund of all illegal cut in salaries of our members by Kaduna state and other state governments.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the federal government threatened to withdraw licenses of medical doctors who deliberately reject and turn back patients from their hospital without attending to them or offering necessary advice on what to do.
Nigerian Tribune reports that while describing it as unethical and unacceptable, the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, on Thursday, June 11, said doctors who engage in such unprofessional conduct would be reported to the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council, and if found guilty would have their licenses withdrawn.
Legit.ng gathered that the minister gave this position, even as he raised concern over the rise in fatality rates and cases of COVID-19, saying, “although numbers are only creeping up compared to other countries and case fatality rate hovers around 3%, we are concerned and at high alert.”
Ehanire advised anyone who is rejected at any hospital or medical facility to write and complain to the board of such hospital, the federal ministry of health, or the state ministry of health in case of state hospitals.
He said: “It is unethical to reject patients who come to the hospital for treatment. I have said here repeatedly that every person who comes to the hospital must be seen and attended to and at least, be given advice on what to do.
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Source: Legit.ng
