The Nigerian healthcare system has been plunged into a state of emergency as the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) commenced an indefinite nationwide strike starting Thursday, July 25th. This industrial action brings medical services across federal tertiary health institutions to a complete standstill, creating what many are calling the worst healthcare crisis in recent memory.
Thousands of resident doctors, who form the backbone of Nigeria's healthcare delivery system, have downed tools following the Federal Government's failure to implement agreements reached over five months ago. The strike affects major teaching hospitals and federal medical centers nationwide, leaving countless patients without critical medical attention.
Why Doctors Are Protesting
The resident doctors' grievances center on several critical issues that have remained unresolved despite repeated negotiations:
- Salary arrears dating back to 2023 for members in specific tertiary health institutions
- Failure to implement the one-for-one replacement policy for healthcare workers
- Delayed payments of accoutrement allowance
- Significant delays in the review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS)
- Outstanding salary shortfalls from 2014 to 2016
- Non-payment of minimum wage consequential adjustment arrears
Patients Bear the Brunt
Across major healthcare facilities, the impact has been immediate and severe. Emergency wards now operate with skeletal staff, elective surgeries have been postponed indefinitely, and outpatient departments have turned away hundreds of patients. The situation is particularly dire for those requiring specialized care that only teaching hospitals can provide.
At the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), anxious relatives could be seen carrying their loved ones to private facilities, while in Abuja, the National Hospital recorded unprecedented low patient turnout as news of the strike spread.
Government's Failed Promises
NARD President, Dr. Dele Abdullahi, expressed deep frustration at the government's lack of commitment to resolving the issues. "We have shown considerable patience and understanding, but the government continues to treat these life-and-death matters with alarming nonchalance," he stated.
The doctors had previously issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, which expired without any meaningful resolution. Multiple meetings with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Employment failed to produce concrete results, leaving the doctors with no alternative but to proceed with the industrial action.
What This Means for Healthcare
The indefinite nature of this strike raises serious concerns about public health safety across Nigeria. With resident doctors constituting a significant percentage of the medical workforce in tertiary institutions, their absence creates a vacuum that cannot be easily filled by consultants and other healthcare professionals.
Medical experts warn that prolonged industrial action could lead to increased mortality rates, worsened health outcomes, and a potential collapse of the already overstretched healthcare system. The strike comes at a time when the country is grappling with various health challenges, including seasonal disease outbreaks and routine medical emergencies.
As the standoff continues, millions of Nigerians are left wondering when they will again access proper medical care, while the government faces mounting pressure to address the doctors' legitimate concerns and restore normalcy to the health sector.
