Posted on: Fri 28-07-2023

 

As doctors under the auspices of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) embark on indefinite strike, the management of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has assured patients of continued service delivery.

 

Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), Prof. Datonye Alasia, gave the assurance in an interview yesterday.

 

Alasia stated that although the medical institution had not received any official communication of the strike action, it has rolled out a contingency plan to absorb whatever pressure the absence of the doctors would put on the hospital.

 

“We just received that notice, even though we have not had official communication but it was from the media we heard the notice of the strike action.

 

“Disruption of services as unions is not new. As a hospital, we have a policy and a contingency plan to deal with those situations, irrespective of the group of workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics,” he said.

 

He noted that although the strike action will impact service delivery, it may not be at the optimum because of the contingencies that will fill the gaps.

 

He said: “Whenever such an event takes place, we activate those protocols and they are already in place to make up for whatever gaps there may be in service.

 

“And as the situation unfolds, we will also review the situation and implement the appropriate response. But the facility is open and patients are still getting the care they need while we see how it goes.”

 

Asked if patients will not be discharged and clinics closed in coming days, he said: “Those are things embedded in the response plan. The plan will consider patients’ safety, quality of care and the resources available to provide the care. So as we go on, we will decide which aspects of the plans we will be implementing. But we have not reached that stage. It is still early,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, the hospital’s chapter of NARD has declared an indefinite strike, effective Wednesday.

 

According to the General Secretary, Dr. Raymond Stanley, the decision was taken at the NARD NEC meeting.

 

Source: Obinna Nwaoku, Guardian News

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