The seven-day warning strike by the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) is already causing significant challenges for patients in hospitals across Abuja, Nigeria’s capital. Patients reported delays in receiving medical care, with new admissions suspended due to the absence of consultant doctors.
Impact on Healthcare Services
Hospitals in Abuja, including the National Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, are attending only to emergency cases. Non-emergency patients face long waits or outright refusal for admission.
Uchenna, a 56-year-old patient at the National Hospital, expressed frustration after being denied admission. “I ran a test at a private clinic and was referred here, but I was told I couldn’t be admitted because consultant doctors are on strike. I don’t know how long I can wait for treatment,” he said.
Another patient, Bukola Bamgbose, noted the increased strain on the system: “The strike is taking a toll on us. We now wait hours to see a doctor.”
Reasons for the Strike
MDCAN members embarked on the strike to press several demands, including:
- Relieving the Chairman of Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Governing Council for alleged insubordination and ignoring directives from the Ministry of Education.
- Developing an inclusive framework for advertising Vice-Chancellor positions, with a prototype suggested based on Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
- Harmonizing retirement age for medical consultants to 70 years.
- Ensuring uniform application of CONMESS (Consolidated Medical Salary Structure) for all medical and dental officers.
- Payment of 2023 and 2024 Clinical Duty Allowance arrears and CONMESS arrears (25%/35%).
Strain on Medical Personnel
According to the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Tope Osundara, the strike has left residents unable to fully manage patient admissions. “Consultants own the patients, and without them, residents cannot admit or provide care requiring consultant expertise. This has left the public burdened with limited access to specialized care,” Osundara explained.
Emergency cases are being referred to other centers when necessary, but no new patients requiring consultant input are being admitted.
Government’s Response
The Chairman of the 10th Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, has scheduled a meeting with the striking consultants on Wednesday to address their concerns. The National President of MDCAN, Prof. Muhammad Muhammad, confirmed the planned meeting and reported strong compliance with the strike across the country.
“We will meet with the Senate Committee Chairman on Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, our consultants have demonstrated impressive compliance nationwide,” Muhammad said.
Patient Appeals
Patients, particularly those unable to afford private healthcare, are urging both the Federal Government and the striking doctors to resolve the situation. “The government needs to address these strikes urgently. Many Nigerians cannot afford private hospitals, and these disruptions are devastating,” lamented Wale Debo, a patient at the Federal Medical Centre.
The ongoing strike underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare sector to prevent recurring disruptions and ensure consistent access to care for all citizens.
