The Medical and Dental Council Of Nigeria (MDCN) has issued a stern warning to doctors, cautioning against denying patients access to healthcare services during strike actions. The regulatory body addressed this concern in a letter dated January 4, 2024, sent to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of various healthcare institutions.
Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, the registrar of the MDCN, highlighted the growing trend of registered practitioners engaging in industrial actions, including strikes, to enforce their labor rights. The letter emphasized that the conduct of shutting down the health sector during strikes has brought disrepute to the medical professions and will no longer be acceptable.
The key points from the MDCN’s directive include:
- Patients on admission must not be discharged solely due to a strike action.
- Emergency units, labor rooms, and other critical care facilities must remain open and manned by scheduled practitioners.
- Accidents and emergency units must operate based on the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.
The MDCN warned that administrative practitioners, such as Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, would be held responsible and face severe consequences for any violation of these regulations.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) recently issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, setting a deadline of January 31, 2024, to meet its demands. Failure to meet these demands could result in industrial action within the health sector.
The ongoing trend of strikes in the healthcare sector in Nigeria has been a recurrent issue, with various demands from medical professionals seeking improved welfare, salary reviews, and other workplace conditions. The MDCN’s warning aims to ensure that patient care remains a priority, even in times of industrial action.
