The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced an indefinite strike, leaving the nation’s healthcare system in turmoil.
The decision comes just a day after a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, in Abuja, where pleas for postponing the strike were made in hopes of further negotiations.
However, the doctors’ union, in a resolute statement released on Wednesday morning, asserted that they can no longer place their trust in the government‘s promises.
Their primary demands, which have gone unaddressed for too long, have reached a tipping point:
1. Immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF): A crucial stipend for the professional growth and development of doctors that cannot be overlooked.
2. Urgent release of the circular on one-for-one replacement: Ensuring adequate manpower in healthcare institutions is essential to meet the growing healthcare needs of the population.
3. Payment of skipping arrears: Fair compensation for doctors’ years of hard work and dedication to the profession.
4. Upward review of CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) in line with 2014 values: A step towards recognizing doctors’ contributions and improving their standard of living.
5. Payment of the arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage to omitted doctors: Ensuring that no doctor is left behind in the wake of changing economic conditions.
6. Reversal of the downgrading of the membership certificate by MDCN (Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria): Protecting the professional dignity and rights of doctors.
7. Payment of MRTF, new hazard allowance, skipping, and implementation of corrected CONMESS in State Tertiary Health Institutions: Ensuring equitable treatment for doctors across all healthcare institutions.
8. Payment of omitted hazard allowance arrears: Acknowledging the immense risks and sacrifices doctors make, especially during times of crisis.
The decision to strike did not come lightly as it followed a meeting in June with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who promised to address all outstanding grievances. Despite assurances, the doctors feel left with no choice but to take this extreme step in pursuit of their just demands.
The strike has the potential to severely impact healthcare services nationwide with thousands of patients at risk of being left without proper medical attention.