The Nigerian Medical Association on Monday announced plan to embark on an indefinite strike, starting from Tuesday, July 1.
The NMA President, Dr Kayode Obembe, who made the announcement at a news conference in Abuja, said the decision followed the expiration of a two-week ultimatum it gave the Federal Government to meet its 24-point demand.
Obembe said they opted for a total and indefinite strike at an emergency delegates meeting held on June 28, after negotiations with the government failed to yield relevant results.
He said, “The NMA is taking this painful route because our silence and gentle approach to these contending issues have been taken for granted.
“We have to take this action in order to save the health care delivery system from anarchy that is palpably imminent.”
He appealed for understanding, and called on Nigerians to prevail on the government to meet the demands.
The NMA president read out an open letter addressed to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in which the association listed the 24 ssues it wanted the government to address.
The letter, entitled, ‘Minimum End Point for Restoration of Sustainable Sanity in Patient Care in Nigerian Hospitals’, was jointly signed by Obembe, NMA Secretary-General, Dr Adewumi Alayaki and all heads of its affiliate bodies.
Some of the major issues include reserving the position of chief medical director to only medical doctors, appointment of Surgeon General of the Federation, passage of National Health Bill and providing security for doctors.
The NMA also wants increase in duty, hazard and specialist allowances, as well as budget for residency training programme.
It called for the reintegration of its members into the IPPIS platform, and reserving the title of consultants to only medical doctors, among others.
U people are very crazy...we don't have Dr in this country...wht we have in Nigeria re greedy doctors seeking only their self interest.
ReplyDeleteAfter taking oats to sacrifice in order to save the lives of people, all u do now is strike and strike. Na only una go school? There is God ooo, and he is watching.
ReplyDeleteLet's just pray for the lives that will be lost. If anyone is to be blamed, it should be the government. In a country where the government values money than human lives what more can you expect.
ReplyDeleteA doctor spends hours in the theatre, hours in the clinic passionately talking to each patient and profers a solution, heads to the wards to assure the patient is doing well also not forgetting what they passed through to become a doctor; only to get insulted in honour, neglect and financially. Instead a government official especially those in the legislative arm of government sit for few hours delebrating nothing and millions roll into their pocket, moves around with sirens,....you know the rest. If we can't stand for the right things to be done, they our humanity and profession is lost.
The demands are laughable .
ReplyDeleteDoctors strike and people die. They want to finish the work from boko haram?
ReplyDeleteN100,000.00 hazard allowance is their major demand & thats why many sick ppl will be abandoned to die
ReplyDeleteStrike is the only language this government understands.
ReplyDelete