Patients
in tertiary hospitals and their relatives are in agony and pains as the
industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident
Doctors (NARD) enters its third day.
in tertiary hospitals and their relatives are in agony and pains as the
industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident
Doctors (NARD) enters its third day.
A visit to most of the hospitals showed
that the doctors have completely withdrawn services in compliance with
the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the national leadership of
the union.
that the doctors have completely withdrawn services in compliance with
the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the national leadership of
the union.
Daily Sun observed that skeletal services
and palliative measures put in place by most hospitals have proved
inadequate and unable to cushion the agony of patients. But the union
has blamed the failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands
for the strike.
and palliative measures put in place by most hospitals have proved
inadequate and unable to cushion the agony of patients. But the union
has blamed the failure of the Federal Government to meet their demands
for the strike.
According to NARD’s President, Dr. John
Onyebuze, the doctors’ service would remain withdrawn until the demands,
which include immediate enrolment under the integrated payroll and
personal information system and payment of all salary shortfalls were
met.
Onyebuze, the doctors’ service would remain withdrawn until the demands,
which include immediate enrolment under the integrated payroll and
personal information system and payment of all salary shortfalls were
met.
At the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi,
Lagos, a patient, who gave her name as Patience, said she had waited
endlessly to be attended to.
Lagos, a patient, who gave her name as Patience, said she had waited
endlessly to be attended to.
“Only the nurses came to look after us,
the doctors that came were few and their ward round didn’t cover all of
us. There are a lot of people with critical cases and if they are not
attended to, they may die,” she wailed.
the doctors that came were few and their ward round didn’t cover all of
us. There are a lot of people with critical cases and if they are not
attended to, they may die,” she wailed.
Mr. Thomas Agun who was admitted for heart and kidney related diseases said he was billed to undergo another round
of tests in the next two days after which he be re-examined by his
doctor. He said that might not be impossible, except the doctors call
off their strike immediately.
of tests in the next two days after which he be re-examined by his
doctor. He said that might not be impossible, except the doctors call
off their strike immediately.
At the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State, relatives
of patients have started moving them to private hospitals. Although
nurses and other health workers are working, it was learnt that critical
cases that needed doctors’ attention were not being attended to.
of patients have started moving them to private hospitals. Although
nurses and other health workers are working, it was learnt that critical
cases that needed doctors’ attention were not being attended to.
Daily Sun gathered
that many patients were relocated from the various wards to private
hospitals owned by some of the striking doctors. It was also learnt that
National Youths Service corps (NYSC) members serving who are medical
doctors were attending to patients. Efforts by striking doctors to stop them were foiled by the hospital management.
that many patients were relocated from the various wards to private
hospitals owned by some of the striking doctors. It was also learnt that
National Youths Service corps (NYSC) members serving who are medical
doctors were attending to patients. Efforts by striking doctors to stop them were foiled by the hospital management.
This is even as doctors at the Ekiti
State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), who were yet to join as at
yesterday owing to ongoing accreditation of Surgery Department, would
down tools today, president of the chapter, Dr. Tunji Olaoye, said.
State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), who were yet to join as at
yesterday owing to ongoing accreditation of Surgery Department, would
down tools today, president of the chapter, Dr. Tunji Olaoye, said.
“We are joining the strike on Thursday
after the ongoing accreditation exercise might have ended on Wednesday.
We want to appeal to our patients to bear with us, he said.”
after the ongoing accreditation exercise might have ended on Wednesday.
We want to appeal to our patients to bear with us, he said.”
EKSUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Dr.
Kolawole Ogundipe, said efforts were being made to ensure that “the
system does not collapse.”
Kolawole Ogundipe, said efforts were being made to ensure that “the
system does not collapse.”
At the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, it was tale of woes for patients as services remain grounded.
“The decision to embark on strike was in
compliance with the directive from the NEC of the National Association
of Resident Doctors issued to state chapters,” UCH’s branch president,
Dr. Olusegun Olaopa, said.He described the strike as holistic as it
affects every department.
compliance with the directive from the NEC of the National Association
of Resident Doctors issued to state chapters,” UCH’s branch president,
Dr. Olusegun Olaopa, said.He described the strike as holistic as it
affects every department.
Similarly, services have been paralysed
in public hospitals in Kaduna State even as nurses and consultants
render skeletal services to fill the vacuum created by doctors.
in public hospitals in Kaduna State even as nurses and consultants
render skeletal services to fill the vacuum created by doctors.
Although doctors at the Lagos University
Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos joined the strike since
Monday, the Chief Medical Director, said management would not discharge
patients in the wards or turn back outpatients.
Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos joined the strike since
Monday, the Chief Medical Director, said management would not discharge
patients in the wards or turn back outpatients.
He called on doctors to explore alternative ways of pressing for their demands other than strike.
“One life lost during a industrial action cannot be regained when the strike action is over,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Medical Advisory
Committee (CMAC), LUTH, Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, in a statement yesterday,
assured that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure continuity
of services.
Committee (CMAC), LUTH, Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade, in a statement yesterday,
assured that adequate arrangements have been made to ensure continuity
of services.
“Our patients shall continue to receive
services from staff and we have medical services in place to ensure no
patient suffers. We are hopeful that ongoing negotiations will be
amicable and lead to a speedy resolution.”
services from staff and we have medical services in place to ensure no
patient suffers. We are hopeful that ongoing negotiations will be
amicable and lead to a speedy resolution.”
At the National Eye Centre Kaduna,
nurses, laboratory scientists, pharmacists and other health workers did
whatever they could to assist patients on admission. But unlike in the
past, only few patients were seen in the various wards and waiting
rooms.
nurses, laboratory scientists, pharmacists and other health workers did
whatever they could to assist patients on admission. But unlike in the
past, only few patients were seen in the various wards and waiting
rooms.
The Chief Medical Director, Dr. Alhassan
Mamoud, said adequate arrangement had been made to ensure that
consultants and nurses attended to emergency situations, even as he
pleaded with the striking doctors to suspend their action in the
interest of the citizens who are at the receiving end.
Mamoud, said adequate arrangement had been made to ensure that
consultants and nurses attended to emergency situations, even as he
pleaded with the striking doctors to suspend their action in the
interest of the citizens who are at the receiving end.
An outpatient, Mrs. Priciilia Ezeh, complained that no doctor attended to her after two hours.
One of the doctors who spoke on condition
of anonymity at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, said the strike
would have been averted if the Federal Government had been sincere. “We
embarked on this strike because all other options had failed, it was a
painful decision because patients will be at the receiving end.”
of anonymity at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, said the strike
would have been averted if the Federal Government had been sincere. “We
embarked on this strike because all other options had failed, it was a
painful decision because patients will be at the receiving end.”
However, former personal physician to
Chief Moshood Abiola and founder, National Association of Resident
Doctors, Dr. Ore Falomo, condemned the strike.
Chief Moshood Abiola and founder, National Association of Resident
Doctors, Dr. Ore Falomo, condemned the strike.
He said the intention of the founding fathers of NARD must always be put in mind when considering strike, saying that strike must be the very last option.
The pioneer president of the Nigerian
Medical Association (NMA) noted that the nation was already battling
with the strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU), saying that NARD’s action was an added hardship on the already
hard put Nigerians.
Medical Association (NMA) noted that the nation was already battling
with the strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities
(ASUU), saying that NARD’s action was an added hardship on the already
hard put Nigerians.