The President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has asked Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to replace resident doctors who are currently on a warning strike.
This development is coming barely 24 hours after the commencement of one week warning strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD.
The government’s directive to sack the striking NARD members was contained in a circular with Ref. No. DHS/828/T/199 dated January 19, 2017 issued by the Director of Health Services in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Wapada Balami.
However, in a swift reaction, the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA in a statement ordered the immediate retraction of the directive by the Federal Government.
The statement reads in part: “While still looking forward to an amicable resolution of the germane issues raised, the NMA demands an immediate withdrawal of the threat as contained in circular no. DHS/828/T/199 of January 19, 2017 issued by the Director of Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals to employ temporary doctors to replace the members of NARD who are currently on a warning strike action to press home their unmet demands.”
The NMA advised Nigerians to prevail on officials of the Federal Ministry of Health not to “further jeopardise the health of Nigerians already burdened with the biting economic recession.”