Nigerian doctors threaten ‘total and indefinite’ strike

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has “ordered” the federal government to ensure the immediate passage of the National Health Bill and also honour other agreements reached with the association or expect an indefinite industrial action, beginning from July 1, 2014.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, president of the association, Dr. Kayode Obembe, said the association is taking the action in order to revamp the sector and enhance the healthcare delivery system in the country.

Among other things, the association is demanding the appointment of a surgeon-general of the federation.

“The Nigerian medical association is opposed to the proliferation of directors in the teaching hospital. Medical practice must be centred on patients cares,” he said.

“The moment you start adopting certain titles, it will render you useless in the performance of your duty and in your access to care of patients. I think such titles be completely removed from the health sector; that is our position.”

Obembe also demanded that Grade Level 12 must be skipped for medical doctors, as no medical doctor or dental practitioner should be on that level anymore.

“In the light of the foregoing, the NMA hereby gives government 14 days to meet all our demands as stated above or have our members called out for a resumption of the total and indefinite withdrawal of service, which has been suspended since January 5, 2014.”

Nigerian doctors initially embarked on a five-day warning strike between December 18 and December 22, 2013, which was to be followed by an indefinite industrial action from January 6, 2014. But they had an about-face, citing the need to allow for full implementation of all elements of the agreement between NMA and the government within set time lines.