Public healthcare facilities in Nigeria have been plunged into turmoil due to an ongoing indefinite strike by resident doctors. The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), representing a significant portion of healthcare providers, initiated the strike to address grievances related to working conditions and inadequate labor treatment.
The strike, now entering its third week, has led to a shortage of medical personnel across public hospitals in Abuja and other parts of the country. Patients are grappling with the absence of essential medical services, with only consultant doctors available in the hospitals. Some doctors, in a compassionate move, have opted to provide remote healthcare through telemedicine, while others have decided to stay away from hospital facilities during the strike.
This dire situation has placed patients who rely on public healthcare in a difficult position. While some were caught off guard by the sudden strike action, others had taken preemptive measures to seek medical attention from private facilities. The impact is acutely felt in hospitals like Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja, where emergency cases are piling up with limited medical personnel available to handle them.
Patients have expressed frustration and uncertainty as they navigate the effects of the strike. Alice Okhai, an emergency patient, was disheartened by the lack of available doctors to attend to her urgent medical needs. Meanwhile, Mercy Plangnan had traveled from Suleija, Niger State, seeking medical help, only to encounter the strike.
The situation is mirrored across various public hospitals in Abuja, including Federal Medical Centre (FMC), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), and district hospitals like Maitama, Wuse, Gwarimpa, and more.
Tensions between the doctors and the government have escalated, culminating in the doctors planning nationwide protests starting from Wednesday. This escalation suggests that attempts to negotiate a resolution have been unsuccessful. The government’s offer of a 25 percent salary increase was rejected by the doctors, who insist on the full restoration of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (COMESS) to its original value.
The doctors’ planned protests are aimed at drawing global attention to their cause and the challenges faced by Nigeria’s healthcare sector. The National Association of Resident Doctors vows to picket the Ministry of Health, the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, and various federal and state tertiary health institutions.
As the strike continues and protests loom, patients remain caught in the crossfire between the doctors and the government’s unwillingness to meet their demands. Despite the urgency and desperation among the affected citizens, a resolution to this healthcare crisis remains uncertain.