Resident doctors issued a two-week strike notice

Government hospitals across the country may soon be paralyzed if resident doctors and the federal government do not reach an amicable settlement within the next two weeks.

This comes as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the welfare and professional issues affecting its members, and warned that failure could trigger industrial action.

The notification was contained in a resolution reached by the association at its 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday in Calabar.

NARD National President, Dr Emmanuel Ogar, read the resolution.

The resident doctors expressed concern over the slow implementation of the agreement reached between the association and the Federal Government, and said that the prolonged delay was unacceptable.

They demanded immediate action on unresolved issues relating to remuneration, career advancement, professional allowances, excessive workload, manpower shortages and the general welfare of resident doctors.

The association called for the immediate implementation of the agreements reached with the Federal Government, especially those relating to improving conditions of service and professional development.

This requires a standard template for compensation for work overload and reliable data to justify payments to physicians who perform tasks outside their normal responsibilities.

This has further raised concerns over the continued migration of doctors and other health professionals from Nigeria, saying the development has exacerbated labor shortages and increased the workload of doctors who remain in the country.

NARD therefore urges the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to urgently address the factors causing the continued migration of medical professionals.

The association also asked the state governments to prioritize the welfare of doctors and other health workers employed by their respective institutions and ensure implementation of relevant welfare policies.

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This calls for improved infrastructure, adequate medical equipment and better working conditions in health institutions to improve patient safety and improve health service delivery.

The resolution urges the National Assembly to strengthen budgetary provisions for health services, and emphasizes that adequate funding remains critical to addressing challenges in the sector.

The association demanded immediate payment of salaries and other entitlements due to housekeeping officers and called for their inclusion in relevant welfare arrangements.

Regarding electronic work clocking systems in hospitals, NARD said it is not opposed to implementing such systems, as long as they are implemented correctly and used to support accurate data management rather than punish medical personnel.

The report observes that several agreements and commitments reached with the Federal Government remain unresolved despite repeated meetings and assurances.

Therefore, the association urges the government to use these two weeks to address unresolved issues and prevent damage to industrial harmony in the health sector.

Doctors living there say that resolving these disputes will improve their well-being, reduce fatigue and ultimately improve the quality of health services available to Nigerians.

The association also elected new national officers, with Dr Emmanuel Ogar appointed as president, along with other members of the National Executive Board.

The report urges new leadership to work towards implementation of the resolution and maintain engagement with the government to achieve better service conditions for resident doctors.