National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) Communique at the End of the 2015 Ordinary General Meeting

Posted on: Thu 04-06-2015

Preamble: The National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) held her 35th Ordinary General Meeting and Scientific Conference from the 26th-31st May, 2015, at the Nondon International Hotel, Enugu State. The Meeting which was hosted by the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State branch of NARD featured a public lecture on the theme – Medical Tourism: Socio-Economic Implications and Backup Challenges of Medical Training, Research and Services in Nigeria.

The Subthemes include:

1. The Doctor as a Servant Leader: Implications and Application to Health Care Delivery in Nigeria

2. Pension Reform Act 2014: Status, Highlights & Principal Points for Resident Doctors

3. Advancing Patient Care with the I-STAT system

The business session was also well attended by delegates from various centers across the country.

OBSERVATIONS

The entire membership of NARD at the said meeting felicitates with the Nigerian people on the smooth political transition following the last General Elections across the country. We also congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice Prof Yemi Osinbajo and pray that the Lord will guide them as they steer the ship towards a New and Egalitarian Nigeria.

In addition, we made the following observations:

Non-payment of the salaries of workers including Resident doctors in many states such as Abia, Osun, Oyo, Benue, Plateau and Lagos states.

Failure of implementation and unilateral breach of agreements reached with the government on such issues as:

Skipping for doctors both in Federal and State Government establishments as agreed on 16th December 2013 and 4th January 2014.

Implementation of Adjusted Errors in Basic Salary and Allowances to doctors.

Payment of Rural allowance to affected members

Reintegration/re-enrollment of doctors on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) platform despite repeated entreaties.

Residency Training Committee Report on the funding and structure of Residency Training in Nigeria.

Removal of Resident Doctors in some Teaching Hospitals from the contributory Pension Scheme as a result wrong categorization following their supposed temporary removal from the IPPIS platform. This has led to an alleged Non-payment of counterpart funding by the government to PFAs in respect of those affected and refusal of hospitals to deduct the employee pension contribution.

This is in clear contravention of the Pension Reform Act 2014 as amended.

RESOLUTIONS

After exhaustive deliberations on the issues highlighted above, the delegates resolved as follows:

1. That the Circular on skipping is confirmed, sacrosanct, and no other circular has been issued to counter it.

2. That any hospital where non-doctors skip, resident doctors must skip to ensure universal applicability and ensure harmony in all hospitals.

3. That all hospitals should as a matter of urgency convoke a stakeholders’ committee comprising State NMA, MDCAN, ARD and representatives of management as agreed on the 27th of May to freely examine the records of payroll monthly personnel cost implications and the personnel budgetary allocation of 2015 in order to ensure payment of skipping for Doctors.

4. All institutions that have strike action should continue until this injustice is corrected.

5. That notwithstanding the apparent volte face by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health Mr Linus Awute, NARD still maintains that he and the Director Hospital Services Dr. Patience Osinubi should honour agreements reached with the Federal Government through the Ministry and NARD shall not accept any arm-twisting by the duo no matter the intimidation.

6. That funding for Residency training should be included in the annual budget of hospitals as agreed with Federal Government and done in 2013/2014 budgets.

7. That the Federal Ministry of Health in Liaison with the Ministry of Finance should ensure the payment of the employer contribution of Pension in respect of Resident Doctors in ISTH Irrua, FETH Gombe, UBTH Benin, AKTH Kano amongst many other centres.

8. That the Federal Government should expedite action on the re-enrollment of Resident Doctors and indeed all Civil Servants onto the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) which remains a veritable tool for personnel cost control and curbing corruption in the public service. This call is for the umpteenth time!

APPRECIATIONS

The NARD appreciates the overwhelming support and hospitality of the good people of Enugu State.

Special thanks to Chief Medical Director UNTH Ituku-Ozalla, Dr. Amah C.C, NMA Chairman Enugu State Dr. Ugwu George, the speakers Barr. Ike Maximus Ugwuoke, Dr Mbah A.U and Dr Ufoegbunam as well as all delegates for committing their time and resources to making sure that the NARD OGM in 2015 became a success.

NARD is also grateful to members of the Association of Resident Doctors UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla Enugu for the successful hosting of the OGM.

Thank you.

Dr. Prince Dan-Jumbo NARD President

Dr. Daniel Gbujie Secretary General

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