It’s good that the NMA called off its strike, but Resident Doctors STILL remain sacked – Health Minister

by S’ola Filani

doctors_march

Despite news reportage on the resumption of duties of doctors and the calls to reinstate resident doctors, the federal government has not rescinded its decision on the sacked resident doctors and suspended residency programme in teaching hospitals.
Nigeria’s Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed this hours ago,  while addressing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.
Recall that the Nigerian Medical Association [NMA] called off the 55-day old strike with a demand that the federal government immediately withdraw the circular suspending the residency programme and sacking resident doctors.The NMA had said in a communiqué:

“Delegates demand immediate withdrawal of the government circular (Reference No. C3132/v/46 of 13th August, 2014) suspending the residency training program and sacking of over 16,000 resident doctors, who constitute about 70% of doctors’ workforce in Nigeria. The NMA urge government, on its part, to reciprocate her good will in ensuring that resident doctors whose appointments were so terminated are reinstalled immediately without any punitive measures,” the NMA communiqué read.

Although the group kept its word and went back to the hospitals on Monday, the federal government said it is yet to receive a notification from the association calling off the strike. He said the residency programme remained suspended until the President decides otherwise.

“Residency programme was suspended by the federal government, meaning they have been disengaged. It is true that over the weekend we read in the papers that the Nigerian Medical Association has called off the strike. But we are yet to see any letter communicating that to us. We will move forward when we get a letter from NMA suspending the strike, then the minister of health will advise Mr. President, so for now residency programme remains suspended,” Chukwu said

Comments (2)

  1. Just imagine the health minister gleefully stating that the resident doctors remined sacked, after doctors called off their strike. I wonder why people in authority are so arrogant. Why were the resident doctors the only ones targeted in the first place? Misplaced aggression one would say, right?

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