A Neuro-Psychiatrist, Dr Nworie McEdwards, on Tuesday identified incessant strikes by medical doctors as a risk factor for the rise in brain drain in the country.
McEdwards, the General Secretary, Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
NAN reports that the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) started an indefinite nationwide strike on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021.
The union scribe said that the industrial action was to push government to honour its agreement on pay arrears, hazard allowance as well as insurance benefits, to families of doctors who died of COVID-19.
Other demands include: life insurance coverage, pay rise, payment of unsettled wages and the need to improve poor working conditions in the hospitals.
The union had called for work stoppages by its members on similar issues in the past: it, however, called off a 10-day strike in April 2021, during which health services and activities were paralysed.
McEdwards explained that the consultant doctors, corper doctors and other medical personnel were on ground in the hospital attending to patients.
He said that the resident doctors were, however, on strikes in compliance with the ongoing NARD’s directives.
He decried the inability of the government to fulfill its part of the agreement with the doctors, which he said was causing incessant strikes.
According to him, “If the government actually wants to curb brain drain in the country, it must do everything necessary to prevent doctors from frequently embarking on strike.
“Government allowing doctors to frequently go on strike due to its inability to meet their demands as agreed, is an indication that the doctors and their services are not recognised, valued or appreciated in the country.
“It is also an indication that the government is indirectly encouraging brain drain because doctors will increase the rate at which they search for job opportunities in other countries where their services will be valued and rewarded accordingly,” he said.
The Neuro-Psychiatrist said that with the numerous demands of the doctors not being met by their employers, is an indication that the doctors were angry, hungry and financially imbalance.
According to him, the services of an angry doctor can be detrimental not only to the patients, but also to himself, his/her family and the economy at large.
Contributing, Dr Njie Michael, another Resident Doctor in the hospital, apologised to the patients and the general public for whatever inconveniences/mishaps the industrial action might have caused them.
Michael said that the strike was not only for the doctor’s interest, but also for the patients and the general public including the economy.
“The only solution to the incessant strikes is for government to be sincere and be responsive to the doctors’ demands for better conditions of service and workplace infrastructure.
“The doctors have the interests of their patients at heart; we can only discharge our duties more effectively to the patients when our lives and welfare are given desired attention,” he said. (NAN)
