Medical services at public hospitals in the nation’s capital were significantly disrupted on Monday as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced a seven-day warning strike.
Resident doctors on strike
The industrial action, which began today, is a direct response to what the doctors describe as a “long-standing systemic failure” within the FCT’s health system, demanding comprehensive and immediate reforms from the federal government.
The decision was formally announced in a communiqué issued after an emergency meeting of the association’s executives. The document, signed by the FCT NARD President, Dr. George Ebong, and other executive members, outlines the critical issues that have forced doctors to down tools.
Mounting Pressures and Critical Shortages
A central grievance is the severe and chronic shortage of medical staff across FCT hospitals. Dr. Ebong emphasized that the existing doctors are being stretched to their breaking point, often forced to cover shifts across multiple departments due to acute understaffing.
“Our members are under immense and unsustainable pressure,” Dr. Ebong stated. “We are frequently covering for two or three missing colleagues, leading to burnout and compromising the quality of patient care we are sworn to provide. This is not a sustainable model for any healthcare system.”
NARD members
Beyond staffing, the communiqué highlights other unresolved issues, including:
· Delayed and Inadequate Remuneration: Irregular payment of salaries and allowances, particularly for doctors who have recently completed their mandatory national service (NYSC) and are yet to be fully integrated into the payroll system.
· Poor Working Conditions: A lack of essential tools, equipment, and a conducive working environment necessary for effective healthcare delivery.
· Unresolved Agreements: The failure of the FCT Health Administration to implement previous agreements reached with the association.
A Call to Avert Total Collapse
The seven-day strike is characterized as a “warning” to compel the government to act before the situation deteriorates further. The doctors have warned that a complete and indefinite shutdown of services could follow if their demands are not met within the stipulated period.
Dr. Ebong called on the Federal Government to treat the issues in the health sector with utmost urgency. “The continued neglect of these fundamental challenges is pushing our healthcare system to the brink,” he warned. “We are sounding this alarm to avert a total systemic collapse. The well-being of patients and healthcare workers is at stake.”
Impact on Services and Government Response
The strike is expected to cripple medical services at major hospitals within the capital territory, including the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Gwagwalada, and other general hospitals run by the FCTA. While consultants and nurses are expected to manage emergency cases, all routine services, including outpatient clinics and elective surgeries, are likely to be suspended or severely limited.
As of the time of this report, the FCT Health Secretariat and the Federal Ministry of Health have yet to issue an official public response to the commencement of the strike. Patients and relatives have been advised to seek alternative arrangements for non-emergency medical care during this period.
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