(By Nike Adebowale-Tambe, Fortune Eromonsele and Zainab Adewale)
Healthcare providers throughout the Federal Capital Territory have been thrown into disarray on Monday after the Affiliation of Resident Medical doctors, FCT chapter (ARD-FCT) launched into an indefinite strike, forcing hospitals to discharge sufferers and droop routine care.
The motion comes after the medical doctors’ seven-day warning strike elapsed with out progress in negotiations with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT).
Among the many points driving the motion are scarcity of manpower, poor welfare, unpaid salaries, unexplained deductions, the psychological toll of lengthy working hours, and the absence of latest recruitment in FCT hospitals since 2011.
ARD-FCT President, George Ebong, earlier advised PREMIUM TIMES that regardless of a number of rounds of dialogue, the FCTA has failed to deal with long-standing issues affecting medical doctors in its make use of.
With the indefinite strike now in power, a PREMIUM TIMES go to to hospitals throughout the FCT reveals the affect of the motion on sufferers and well being providers.
Companies paralysed
At Maitama, Asokoro and Wuse Common Hospitals, sufferers have been turned away as medical doctors vacated wards.
Though consultants and nurses tried to maintain amenities working, massive sections of the hospitals, together with gynaecology, surgical and paediatric wards have been shut, with sufferers requested to go house.
At Maitama Common Hospital, most departments appeared empty as of 11:30 a.m, with solely a handful of sufferers seen inside the facility. Nurses have been noticed transferring throughout wards, however medical doctors’ absence was conspicuous.
Even the emergency unit, often the busiest a part of the hospital, had only some sufferers being attended to by nurses.
Ms Amaka Owulo, one affected person who had come for therapy expressed frustration noting that she was delayed because of the physician’s absence.
She mentioned, “I wasn’t conscious of the strike. I bought to the hospital some minutes earlier than 11:00 a.m and was advised in regards to the strike. No person was prepared to take care of me at first however after a lot pleading, a nurse attended to me, not fairly lengthy. For me, the nurses are attempting, however there are limits to what they’ll do.”
Additionally, two moms who introduced their infants lamented that they may not be attended to and have been already on their means house when being approached.
At Wuse Common Hospital, the state of affairs was barely higher than Maitama however nonetheless removed from regular. Many ready areas have been empty, and the hospital’s general tempo had slowed.
Some sufferers who spoke with this newspaper mentioned they have been attended to by the nurses whereas others mentioned they’ve been requested to go house and return when the strike is over.
“This will likely be my second time coming to the hospital inside every week with out seeing a physician. I used to be right here final week and was advised the medical doctors are on strike, right now once more similar state of affairs,” Mr Okafor, who was on the hospital advised PREMIUM TIMES.
Hospital workers confirmed that two medical doctors have been accessible on the emergency unit, however they have been mentioned to be occupied and couldn’t converse with this reporter. Just a few sufferers have been seen within the emergency ward.
In the meantime, sufferers within the feminine medical ward, feminine surgical ward, emergency paediatric ward, and paediatric ward have been discharged because of the ongoing strike.
The state of affairs on the Asokoro District Hospital isn’t so completely different as sufferers have been additionally left with out enough care.
A pregnant girl at Asokoro Hospital, who had been scheduled for a follow-up appointment, mentioned she was shocked to find medical doctors have been unavailable.
She mentioned she had waited patiently for this appointment date.
On the Common Out-patient Division, solely a single advisor physician was on responsibility, attending to the sufferers who got here in for check-ups and therapy.
Skeletal providers in Nyanya and Karu common hospitals
At Nyanya Common Hospital, providers remained skeletal. Sufferers have been current within the facility, however many have been unable to see medical doctors.
A affected person who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES mentioned she had postponed her hospital go to a number of instances however finally got here solely to find she nonetheless couldn’t entry therapy.
“I don’t know what else to do. Going to a personal hospital is simply too costly, and right here I can’t see a physician. I’m simply confused,” she mentioned.
When this reporter tried to talk with a nurse on the accident and emergency ward, the nurse declined, insisting that official approval was required earlier than any remark could possibly be made.
At Karu Common Hospital, the state of affairs was much less tense, however providers have been nonetheless clearly decreased.
To grasp how sufferers have been being acquired on the GOPD, the reporter approached the registration desk as if searching for session.
The cashier defined that there won’t be medical doctors accessible and suggested checking first.
“It’s best to test if a Corper physician is on name, you may return so we are able to register you,” he mentioned.
Upon checking the division, this reporter noticed solely two sufferers ready, with most areas of the hospital showing abandoned.
Medical doctors’ grievances
The medical doctors, in a communique issued forward of the strike lamented the continued non-payment of wage owed to members employed since 2023, regardless of repeated engagements with administration.
It highlighted the non-disbursement of the 2025 Medical Residency Coaching Fund (MRTF), which has left members indebted whereas struggling to fulfill necessary coaching obligations.
It additionally listed the non-payment of arrears from the 25/35 per cent Consolidated Medical Wage Construction (CONMESS) upward evaluate, persistent and unexplained deductions alongside irregular wage funds, and delays in promotion workout routines as a part of its grievances.
“Zero effort in direction of the recruitment of latest medical doctors, regardless of the apparent manpower disaster that has subjected our members to insufferable bodily, emotional, and psychological pressure – leading to avoidable stress-related deaths. Each medical doctors’ and sufferers’ lives stay endangered.
“The deplorable state of FCTA hospitals, which are actually shadows of decay moderately than centres of excellence, missing gear, consumables, and primary performance.”
READ ALSO: Medical doctors strike paralyses public hospitals in Ogun
Calls for
The medical doctors are demanding, amongst others, the quick cost of all excellent wage arrears to members employed since 2023.
It additionally referred to as for the quick recruitment of latest medical doctors, with written, time-bound commitments to conclude earlier than the top of 2025, noting that that is of utmost urgency.
The medical doctors are additionally requesting the quick cost of the 2025 MRTF for medical doctors’ medical coaching and cost of arrears from the 25/35 per cent CONMESS evaluate
Others are “Rapid stoppage of all misguided deductions and correction of irregular wage funds, quick cost of wage award arrears, as already finished for colleagues at federal and state ranges, cost of 13 months’ hazard allowance arrears and quick cost of all arrears owed to 2025 exterior residents.
“Pressing renovation, equipping, and upgrading of all FCTA hospitals to globally acceptable requirements.”
The medical doctors vowed to proceed the motion “till authorities and administration present real dedication to the welfare of medical doctors and the well being of FCT residents.”
“We do hope that the administration will do the pressing needful to fulfill all of our calls for for the sake of our sufferers and ourselves,” it mentioned.
