FG orders sack of striking resident doctors

Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole has directed chief medical directors and medical directors of Federal Government tertiary health institutions to fill the vacancies created by resident Doctors who failed to report to work.

This is against the backdrop of the nationwide strike embarked upon by the National Association Resident Doctor (NARD), on Monday, June 20.

The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Amina Shamaki and sent to the CMDs and MDs of the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions.

The Circular read as follows: “It has come to the notice of the Management of the Ministry that some Resident Doctors in your establishment have voluntarily withdrawn from the Residency Training Program by refusing to report for training without authorization.

“Public Service Rule, PSR 030402 (e) is relevant. This is in spite of the ongoing negotiations on their demands put forward by the representatives of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) under the auspices of the Nigerian Medical Association.”

“In view of this development, you are hereby directed to replace all the Doctors that have withdrawn their services, with others from the pool of applicants for the training programs in the various disciplines in order not to create an ominous gap in training with attendant disruption of health care delivery in your facility.”

A statement by the Director of Information, Mrs. Boade Akinola disclosed that the Ministry was working with the panel on the review of the Residency Training Program in Nigeria, led by, the Registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College Professor Wole Atoyebi, to fast-track the development of a comprehensive blueprint for postgraduate training of doctors in the country.
Please, ensure immediate compliance.”

The demands of the Association range from remuneration, injustice, and enrolment of members into IPPIS, the lack of funding for residency training, victimization of members by managements of hospitals, among others.

The NARD President, Dr. Mohammed Askira in a statement stated that the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) failed to attend the meeting convened by the Speaker of National Assembly on June 14, which he noted was geared toward addressing the doctors’ demands.

He added “NARD had to painstakingly wait till the one week period of Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) in Jos before a final action was streamlined. “This strike did not only become necessary but inevitable, going by the gross levity shown by the FMoH in handling our legitimate demands.

“Luckily, the Speaker of the National Assembly swiftly intervened and appealed for a week’s grace before the nationwide action which was graciously granted. “However, the June 14 meeting could not hold because the leadership of the FMoH was not able to attend. “Consequently, therefore, we are now forced to embark on this avoidable indefinite nationwide strike.

Askira then urged the Association members to ensure 100 per cent compliance, describing their demands as cutting across all doctors in institutions.