Doctors in Nigeria strike over wages
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《英国医生杂志》
Resident doctors in Nigeria抯 public hospitals have threatened to go on strike indefinitely if the government fails to meet their demands about wages. The threat comes from the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), the 5000 strong trade union that represents doctors below the rank of consultant practising in public hospitals in Nigeria.
To press home their point, the doctors embarked on what they called a "warning strike" between Monday and Tuesday this week. Commenting on the need to embark on the warning strike, the association抯 president, Jerry Oguzie said, "We have watched helplessly as our profession has been terribly bastardised, and infrastructural decay has overtaken our hospitals and health clinics.
"In the current struggle, the two day warning strike was what its name suggested—a warning. It was a wake up call on the government of the federation to listen to the cries of the medical doctors in the NARD.
"It was to draw government抯 attention to the pitiable sight of the doctor who can no longer afford the basic necessities of life. A strike action is usually the last option."
In response to this call, medical doctors below the rank of consultant in all of Nigeria抯 public hospitals did not give any clinical services on Monday and Tuesday. The only services available were from hospital consultants.
The issues at stake include the persistent part payment of monthly salaries, non-implementation of an earlier agreed wage rise, and non-payment of other miscellaneous entitlements due to doctors. Commenting on these, Dr Oguzie said, "Since November 2003, most of our members have been paid their monthly salaries on a percentage basis. What this translates to is that a doctor works for thirty days and gets paid for less than 15 days.
"The association has sought for the reasons for this development, by letters, phone calls, and personal discussions with the power brokers, and all that we hear is that it is due to a 憇hortfall.?We are not told what the cause of the shortfall is . . . we had accommodated the answers given to us so far but our patience has completely run out . . . we are not asking for any new remuneration, all we are asking for is to be paid fully for work fully done."
The other entitlements that the doctors are asking for include sponsorship to attend update courses; a teaching allowance for their help in the training of medical students; and the implementation of an earlier agreed 22% increase in basic salary.
Members of the NARD hold both training and non-training posts in Nigeria抯 hospitals and constitute the largest workforce of medical doctors in the country抯 health sector.
Commenting on the fact that the strike may deny patients access to health care, Dr Oguzie said, "The strike action is not targeted against the patient but rather against the government for insensitivity to the plight of medical doctors . . . quality medical care is not only available in government hospitals. If the government pays us our November salaries in full with a pledge to pay the arrears of the shortfall in December, then we have a reason to sit down and talk."(Calabar, Nigeria Chibuzo )
To press home their point, the doctors embarked on what they called a "warning strike" between Monday and Tuesday this week. Commenting on the need to embark on the warning strike, the association抯 president, Jerry Oguzie said, "We have watched helplessly as our profession has been terribly bastardised, and infrastructural decay has overtaken our hospitals and health clinics.
"In the current struggle, the two day warning strike was what its name suggested—a warning. It was a wake up call on the government of the federation to listen to the cries of the medical doctors in the NARD.
"It was to draw government抯 attention to the pitiable sight of the doctor who can no longer afford the basic necessities of life. A strike action is usually the last option."
In response to this call, medical doctors below the rank of consultant in all of Nigeria抯 public hospitals did not give any clinical services on Monday and Tuesday. The only services available were from hospital consultants.
The issues at stake include the persistent part payment of monthly salaries, non-implementation of an earlier agreed wage rise, and non-payment of other miscellaneous entitlements due to doctors. Commenting on these, Dr Oguzie said, "Since November 2003, most of our members have been paid their monthly salaries on a percentage basis. What this translates to is that a doctor works for thirty days and gets paid for less than 15 days.
"The association has sought for the reasons for this development, by letters, phone calls, and personal discussions with the power brokers, and all that we hear is that it is due to a 憇hortfall.?We are not told what the cause of the shortfall is . . . we had accommodated the answers given to us so far but our patience has completely run out . . . we are not asking for any new remuneration, all we are asking for is to be paid fully for work fully done."
The other entitlements that the doctors are asking for include sponsorship to attend update courses; a teaching allowance for their help in the training of medical students; and the implementation of an earlier agreed 22% increase in basic salary.
Members of the NARD hold both training and non-training posts in Nigeria抯 hospitals and constitute the largest workforce of medical doctors in the country抯 health sector.
Commenting on the fact that the strike may deny patients access to health care, Dr Oguzie said, "The strike action is not targeted against the patient but rather against the government for insensitivity to the plight of medical doctors . . . quality medical care is not only available in government hospitals. If the government pays us our November salaries in full with a pledge to pay the arrears of the shortfall in December, then we have a reason to sit down and talk."(Calabar, Nigeria Chibuzo )