The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors have lamented the dearth of manpower across the healthcare facilities in the country.
NARD made this known in a communique issued on Monday after its Ordinary General Meeting held in Kaduna from May 27 to June 1st, 2024, with the theme, ‘Journey towards universal health coverage: Nigeria’s status amidst financial crisis and epidemiologic transition.’
Its President, Dele Abdullah; the Secretary-General, Dr Christopher Anaduaka; and the Public and Social Secretary, Dr John Egbe, signed the communique.
The resident doctors said the manpower gap has resulted in a high workload on their members in the country, and asked the Federal Government to meet the demands of the Organised Labour.
Last week, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate decried that developing countries like Nigeria continue to lose their highly trained health professionals to developed countries that did not invest in their first professional education.
Pate, however, said the country is taking responsibility and striving to rebuild the national health system, improve its governance, strengthen public health capacities, and unlock our healthcare value.
Meanwhile, in its communique, NARD noted that bigger health facilities are bearing the greater brunt of the shortage.
The communique partly read, “The OGM observed with dismay the dearth of manpower in our hospitals across the country with bigger centres bearing the greater brunt and its attendant burnout effect on our members. The OGM also noted with appreciation the different efforts of the Ministry of Health to find a lasting solution to this chronic manpower shortage.
“The OGM observed that this manpower gap has resulted in a high workload meted on our members across the country resulting in burnout and worsening the exodus of our members. The OGM also observed that despite the massive manpower gap there is still massive casualisation of our members in different health institutions
across the country.
“The OGM observed with dismay the injustices being endured by our members on Locum appointments such as not being paid the upward review Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and being denied other emoluments such as medical residency training fund and hazard allowances by some hospital managements. The OGM noted with shock that the federal government paid only one month of the upward CONMESS review arrears with a protracted delay in paying the remaining seven months.”
The doctors said they are disappointed at the deliberate delay of some Chief Medical Doctors/Medical Doctors in paying the accoutrements allowances despite the circular released by the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission dated July 26, 2023, and directive of the coordinating minister of the Federal Ministry of Health and social welfare to all CMDs /MDs.
They also raised concerns about the alarming increase in assaults on health workers across the country.
They, however, called on the government to implement a cap on work hours to address overwork and burnout among healthcare professionals.
Furthermore, they called for the abolishment of the casualisation of doctors to ensure fair and secure employment practices.
“The OGM calls on healthcare centres to expedite migration to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System following the employment of new residents to streamline payroll processes. The OGM calls for appropriate remuneration for extra hours worked by health workers to recognise and compensate for their additional effort.
“The OGM calls for the expedited payment of reviewed CONMESS salary arrears. The OGM mandates respective centres to give a two-week ultimatum to all the CMDs/ MDs to pay the accoutrement allowance. The OGM reiterates its stand that assault on our members will result in immediate withdrawal of duties till we are sure the area is safe enough for practice.
“The OGM calls on the legislative to expedite the enactment of laws criminalising assault on healthcare professionals to provide legal protection and deterrence. The OGM calls on members to promote a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying in all forms within healthcare settings to foster a respectful and supportive work environment,” they stated.
The resident doctors also called for the immediate payment of the 2024 Medical Residency Training Fund.
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They added, “The OGM urges the government to set machinery in motion aimed at offsetting skipping arrears covering 2014, 2015, and 2016 respectively. The OGM calls on the West African Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians to look critically at reviewing its fees to enable residents to register for the updates and examinations. The OGM calls for
the immediate payment of arrears of consequential adjustment of minimum wage as well as arrears of hazard allowances to our members
“The OGM calls on all relevant stakeholders to impress on the CMD of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja to desist from his current line of actions and expedite the legitimate recruitment process for healthcare workers to breach the massive manpower gap plaguing the institution.
“The OGM urges the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and all other relevant stakeholders to expedite the IPPIS capturing of members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex. The OGM calls on the Federal Government to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and meet the demands of the Labour Congress.”
