On Tuesday, July 1, doctors in public hospitals across the country, under the auspices of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), embarked on an indefinite strike after a two-week ultimatum given to the federal government. The NMA president, Dr Kayode, told the press that, following the failure of the federal government to meet its 24-point demand, the association had no other alternative than “to call on its members to down tools… in order to press home theirdemands” and only a government circular agreeing to its “minimum endpoints for restoration of sustainable sanity in patient care in Nigerian hospitals will end the strike”.

 

Some of the demands of the doctors include: immediate appointment of a surgeon-general of the federation in accordance with President Goodluck Jonathan’s pronouncement, speedy passage of the National Health Bill, universal health coverage for all Nigerians, extra 1 kobo per second on call costs to finance a community health insurance fund, a N100,000 monthly hazard allowance for doctors, payment of clinical duty allowance for honorary consultants and the appointment of deputy chairman, medical advisory committee, in teaching hospitals and federal medical centres as well as dis-continuation of recognition of non-medical doctors as directors and consultants.

 

The NMA claims that the masses would be the ultimate beneficiaries of its latest action, but how do they benefit from it when some have already died since the strike began while private hospital owners, who are also members of the NMA, are exploiting others?

 

While we support an upward review of hazard allowances, the fact that the position of surgeon-general is yet to be filled or recognition of non-medical doctors as directors and consultants is not deserving of a strike. Downing tools may be one of the ways organised labour unions use to coerce government to meet their demands, but this must not be employed at the slightest sign of a problem with the authorities.

 

The NMA is fast losing public sympathy because of its penchant for going on strike over flimsy reasons. It is little surprise, therefore, that various stakeholders, including some medical practitioners, have described the latest demands of the doctors as trivial. The strike is also seen as an ego trip and an attempt by the NMA to take total control of the health sector and relegate other health workers to the background. Doctors must understand that even the weakest link in a team counts and is integral to their operation.

 

The doctors should end their strike today.

After that, the government should ensure that it keeps its promises. And whatever it would agree with the doctors must be in line with global best practices, so that we do not find ourselves in a vicious circle with members of one union going on strike because they believe that the demands of another union that had been met are detrimental to theirs.