Address Manpower Shortage, Insecurity Of HealthCare Providers – Resident Doctors 

The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors has called on the Federal Government to immediately address the shortage of manpower and insecurity bedevilling resident doctors in the country.

This call was made at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday by the president of the association, Dr. Dele Abdullahi.

NARD had its 2024 National Executive Council meeting in Abuja between January 30 and February 3 and deliberated on several challenges experienced by residents and doctors in Nigeria.

“The NEC observed with pain the serious challenges of manpower shortages in our hospitals, the attendant burnout on our members and the failure of the government to implement the one-for-one replacement of clinical staff in the hospitals, and any other measures to mitigate brain drain in the country,” 

Abdullahi also highlighted assault on doctors; high school fees for medical students’ professional examinations, maltreatment of staff by some Chief Medical Directors, and poor remuneration as reasons for the ‘japa’ (migration) witnessed among medical healthcare workers in Nigeria.

The NEC further observed with surprise the non-compliance of Chief Medical Directors and Managing Directors of tertiary health institutions to commence payment of some approved allowances to resident doctors.

“The NEC also observed the astronomical increase in the rate of assault against medical doctors within their duty post, a recent incidence occurred at Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja where the majority leader of Kogi State House of Assembly Abdulrazaq Suleiman laid siege at the teaching hospital,” 

He further called on the various medical examination bodies to withdraw the increments to enable the students to register and sit for their examinations.

“We call on professional examination bodies to withdraw the increments in fees to enable students to register and sit for their examinations,” 

He said the association has asked its local chapters to deliberate on modalities to address the issues and revert within four weeks at which point an extraordinary general meeting would be held to discuss further actions.