The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has expressed displeasure over the decision of Resident Doctors to carry on with industrial action even when negotiation is on and appreciable progress being made.
According to him, continuing with the strike is uncalled for, lamenting that lives are being put at risk by their action. He also described as illegal, the strike action declared by National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The Minister spoke at the opening of a retreat organized for Chairmen of Boards of management, Governing Boards, Governing Councils, Chief Executive Officers and Directors of Administration of tertiary Hospitals and parastatals with the theme “Action Push Agenda: Transforming Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria” .
He said already, a committee being chaired by Head of Civil Service of the Federation in which the NMA, including NARD are well represented was already in place to resolve grey areas.
“The strike by Resident Doctors was uncalled for because we were already handling the issues after our meeting with the Nigerian Medical Association. I still remember that the NMA gave us an ultimatum to look at certain issues and we had very long meeting with the NMA and indeed NARD participated in that meeting.
“There is a committee being chaired by Head of Civil Service of the Federation in which the NMA, including NARD are well represented. These are the same matters being handled; so there were persons already in a committee handling those issues and they should have exercised some patience.
“We understand that some of the issues have not been resolved but I think we can do well and exercise some patience before going on strike because when we go on strike, peoples’ lives are involved.”
Prof Chukwu however, dismissed insinuation that the strike could have political undertone, saying “For now, I don’t see it as politically motivated; I see it as Resident Doctors getting restive. But we are appealing to them to really calm down and exercise patience; it will all be resolved.”
