The ongoing strike by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has again proven that Nigeria may be far from a future where neglect of the healthcare sector needs would be over.
It is the second time during the coronavirus pandemic that doctors have picketed the government for its failure to honour demands, including the implementation of residency funding, COVID-19 allowance, payment of hazard allowance and the outstanding salary shortfall of 2014, 2015, and 2016.
It is equally the second glaring opportunity that the Federal G overnment has squandered to demonstrate an unreserved commitment to prioritise its healthcare sector by boosting the morale of its fighters in a fight against a pandemic.
Worldwide, health systems where essential workers are owed salaries, allowances and lack the improved equipment to deliver quality results in their jobs naturally lose talents to climes where these demands are aggressively protected.
Nigeria is one of those countries that employ fewer healthcare workers compared to the barrage of demands from an overwhelming population in its ill-equipped hospitals.
At least, 7,875 Nigerian doctors are practising in the United Kingdom currently, according to the UK’s General Medical Council, while 4,000 practise in the USA.
More than 20,000 Nigerian doctors currently work outside the country just as 80 percent of those working in the country are aggressively chasing exit options, a recent NOI Polls survey reveals.
Whereas the country’s estimates show that it has one doctor to 6,000 people, as against WHO’s recommendation of one to 600 people.
Another poll citing the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) reports that there are about 72,000 nationally-registered Nigerian doctors, with only 35,000 practising in-country. Estimates say there is a deficit of over 260,000 doctors in Nigeria and a minimum of 10,605 new doctors need to be recruited annually to meet global targets.
NARD’s decision follows its national executive council meeting held to review the 21-day ultimatum issued to the government. In spite of the inclusion of residency funding in the revised 2020 budget, the association says the government has not made plans to implement payment.
“NEC resolved to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action from Monday 7th of September 2020 by 8am until the following conditions are met; immediate payment of the Medical Residency Training funding to all her members as approved in the revised 2020 budget; provision of genuine Group life insurance and death in service benefits for all health workers,” it said.
“Payment of the outstanding April/May and June COVID-19 inducement allowance to all health workers; determination of the revised hazard allowance for all health workers as agreed in previous meetings with relevant stakeholders; immediate payment of the salary shortfalls of 2014, 2015 and 2016.
“Doctors working under the various tertiary health institutions to be placed on appropriate salary grade level and universal implementation of the Medical Residency Training Act of 2017 in all state tertiary health institutions; payment of all arrears owed our members in Federal and states tertiary health institutions, arising from the consequential adjustment of the National minimum wage.”
