Senate begs doctors to call off strike

The Senate on Tuesday appealed to doctors in public hospitals across the country to call off their strike in order to prevent loss of lives.

Senator ifeanyi Okowa, chairman, senate committee on health, moved a motion at plenary, stating that the committee has held several meetings with the executive of the Nigeria Medical Association in order to resolve the dispute.

Okowa said the request of the association that the ministry of health issues certain circulars before its members could provide emergency services had been complied with by the ministry, adding that suspending the strike will enable the government to engage in further dialogue with the association and prevent loss of lives.

“The NMA promised it will call its members back to work to offer emergency medical services since Friday July 4,” he said.

“It has directed all medical institutions to offer emergency medical services to Nigerians.

“I thought I needed to inform my colleagues that emergency medical services have been restored, but I will continue with the negotiation with the association along with the presidential committee.”

He appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience, stating that “we will resolve the issue as soon as possible”.

Commenting on the situation, Ike Ekweremadu (pictured), deputy senate president, appealed to the doctors to consider the plight of the patients and return to work.

He said innocent patients would suffer if the dispute between them and the government was not resolved in time and urged them to resume duty immediately in light of their essential responsibility of saving lives.

“I would like to appeal to the striking doctors on behalf of the Senate to please consider going back to work,” he said.

“As long as they are on strike, the casualty will usually be the patients’ who are innocent of whatever agreement they had with government.

“It is important that they realise that their primary responsibility is to save lives.

“I hope that other doctors who are here will also support your initiative to ensure that this matter is settled as soon as possible.”