TSouth caucus of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) yesterday lamented the poor welfare status of resident doctors in state owned tertiary hospitals in the country.Led by its leader and Deputy Leader, Dr. Emmanuel Osagiede and Dr. Godae Donbaridam, they described the state of resident doctors in the country, particularly those in the states employ as unacceptable.

 

“We reviewed the conditions of service of resident doctors at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Port Harcourt, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH- Okolobiri, Bayelsa State and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara.

“It is pathetic to note that resident doctors in RSUTHPort Harcourt have remained stagnated for over 8 years without promotion and proper placement.“In Nduth-okolobiri, it was observed that there is protracted shortage of manpower, poor remuneration and improper placement of our resident doctors, while DELSUTH-OGHARA is bedeviled with poor sponsorship of Residency training.

 

“Generally, all the state owned teaching hospitals in the South-south and some in the South East are yet to domesticate Medical Residency Training (MRT) Act, which was signed into law since 2018. “Particularly of note is the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, where resident doctors are being owed 14 months salaries. This has become unbearable for the doctors in Abia State,” it said.

 

It also described the manpower shortage and refusal of management of the Federal Nuero-psychiatric Hospital, Benin City, Edo State to employ resident doctors at the institution.