A nationwide crisis is looming in the nation’s health sector as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a 21- day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet their demands or face a major crisis in the sector.
The ultimatum was issued yesterday by NARD President, Dr. John Onyebueze, at a press conference in Enugu, which expires midnight of Monday, January 2, 2017. Onyebueze also said that doctors in all public health institutions across the country would start wearing black ward coats if the Federal Government failed to meet an agreement it earlier reached with NARD by the expiration of the ultimatum.
Speaking on the outcome of the extra-ordinary meeting of NARD in Abuja, Onyebueze explained that the health of Nigerian citizens was not receiving the attention it deserves as evidenced by the worsening health indices and dilapidated infrastructure in health institutions across the country.
He blamed the state of hospitals in the country on maladministration and inadequate planning of the Federal Ministry of Health, particularly the complacency of both the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, believed to be gearing up for Osun State governorship and the retiring Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Wapada I. Balami, believed to be gearing up to replace the Minister.
Part of the demands of NARD, according to Onyebueze, include urgent measures to stem the rot in the health sector and ensure access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians, adequate budgetary provisions and planning for both manpower and infrastructure development in subsequent budgets.
Onyebueze said the doctors were equally demanding that the Federal Government should take steps to ensure proper placement of their members with its requisite funding and the immediately payment of withheld salaries of NARD members; that the organization would no longer tolerate deprivation of their members, following the “no work, no pay,” order of the Federal Government.
“The recent unfortunate events have made glaring the fact that NYSC medical care points lack even the most basic facilities and armamentarium to attend to the health needs of youth corps members and NYSC staff as well as guidelines for emergency care response.
“NARD commiserates with the good people of Akwa Ibom State on the recent disaster which claimed numerous lives and commends the gallant efforts of our members in the region, who rose to the occasion with gusto despite the fact that the doctors have not been paid for more than three months.
“The Federal Ministry of Health is undermining staff welfare in tertiary health institutions through improper placement of its doctors on entry and non-adjustment of grade levels and steps of other doctors according to selected steps in placements.
“The Federal Ministry of Health has set out and is implementing a selective and vindictive nonpayment of our members who have legally agitated for their due entitlements.
By: Charles Onyekwere
The Newtelegraph News
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