Strike: FG directs hospitals to engage ‘temporary’ doctors

Prof. Isaac Adewole
Minister of Health

ABUJA – The Federal Government has directed all tertiary hospitals in the country to engage ‘locum’ (temporary) doctors pending when it would have fruitful dialogue with striking resident doctors.

The doctors, under the umbrella of National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, NARD, proceeded on strike on Monday, after alleged government failure to meet its demands.

In a release made available to Nigeria Health Online by Director of Media and Public Relation in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs Boade Akinola, Minister of Health,  Prof. Isaac Adewole, said  the effort was to ensure there are no lapses in services across affected hospitals.

Meanwhile, government will meet with the doctors on Wednesday, the statement said.

Adewole charged Chief Medical Directors, CMDs, and Medical Directors, MDs, of federal hospitals to immediately engage the locum doctors to boost the services of consultants, NYSC doctors and doctors on internship pending the resolution of the ongoing action by the resident doctors.

“This was contained in a circular Ref. No. C. 3132/Vol. V/116, of 5th September, 2017, addressed to all CMDs/MDs of federal tertiary health institutions across the country.

“This according to the honourable minister was an attempt to reduce the increased workload of consultants, NYSC doctors and house officers thereby preventing reduction in quality of service delivery to patients.”

Adewole had on Monday approved the use of armed forces, police and federal road safety health facilities in ensuring continuous provision of health care services in the hospitals.

The new directive was to further provide additional support to the federal government hospitals to strengthen service delivery, the release stated, adding that he government is committed to fulfilling her mandate of providing health to its citizens no matter the circumstances the nation finds itself.