The National Association of Resident Doctors has said there was the need for the government to fully implement the Medical Residency Training Act to ensure unison.
The newly elected National President of NARD, Dr Tope Osundara, said the implementation of Medical Residency Training Act would help in regulating residency programmes across Nigerian hospitals.
The association also raised the alarm over the impact of ‘Japa Syndrome’—a term commonly used to describe the brain drain or exodus of healthcare professionals to other countries in search of better opportunities. This has led to a severe shortage of manpower in the health sector.
Also Read:
150 Passengers Rescued 150 still missing in Niger Boat Mishap- NSEMA
The doctors noted that this shortage is overburdening the few remaining professionals, causing burnout and negatively affecting their mental health.
They demanded that the government improve welfare packages for doctors, including competitive remuneration and better working conditions, to encourage them to remain in the country.
Osundara, in a statement on Tuesday, said these demands, among others, were part of the resolutions in a communiqué issued at the end of NARD’s 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, which concluded in Abeokuta on Saturday.
The communiqué was signed by Dr Osundara, Dr Amobi Omoha, the Publicity and Social Secretary, and Dr Odunbaku Kareem, the General Secretary of NARD.
The NARD President urged the Federal Government to prioritise the implementation of the act, noting that without a legal framework, residency programmes in various hospitals remain vulnerable to arbitrary suspension by Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for unspecified reasons.
Osundara explained, “The Medical Residency Training Act serves as a policy that ensures residency programmes within hospitals are standardised and regulated. Without this regulation, hospitals risk employing unqualified personnel or may see CMDs halting training programmes at will.”
He stressed that the MRTA would safeguard the integrity of medical residency in Nigeria, ensuring the continuous training of doctors in key specialisations and preventing the proliferation of inadequately trained personnel, which could compromise patient care.
Osundara also lamented the lack of funding for medical residency training, stating that doctors should not have to bear the financial burden of their training. He pointed out that resident doctors not only provide medical services but also conduct research, which requires financial support from the government.
“The lack of political will has hindered proper funding of medical residency training across various states, especially in teaching hospitals. Some governors have failed to domesticate the MRTA, further compounding the challenges faced by resident doctors,” he added.
Osundara called on state governments to follow the example of governors like Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, who has taken steps to domesticate the MRTA, ensuring that resident doctors receive the necessary support.
He said, “In Nigeria, we have a doctor attending to 600 patients, which far exceeds the World Health Organisation standards. This is severely affecting the mental health of doctors, and nobody seems to care. This is why people are leaving the sector in droves, seeking better conditions elsewhere. The government must improve the remuneration and welfare packages for doctors to stem this tide.”
Osundara also called for joint efforts from stakeholders and security agencies to ensure the safety of doctors and other healthcare workers, particularly in light of the ongoing kidnapping crisis.
He made a heartfelt appeal for the release of Dr Popoola Ganiyat, who was abducted in Kaduna in December last year.
“We commend the Federal Government and security agencies for their efforts, but we urge them to do more. We will not rest until Dr Popoola is released safely,” Osundara stated.
The AGM also called on the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to expedite the payment of the outstanding MRTF and to adhere to the agreements made during the stakeholders’ meeting conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health.
NARD further demanded that all Medical Directors of hospitals clear the arrears of the accoutrement allowance and urged the Federal Government to expedite the commencement of payment of the allowance through IPPIS, as approved in June 2024.
The AGM urged the Federal Government to take swift action on the payment of the arrears of the upwardly revised CONMESS and other outstanding salary arrears.
NARD also criticised the high-handedness of some CMDs, particularly at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, for implementing anti-resident policies detrimental to the welfare of doctors.
The AGM demanded that the Federal Government address these issues promptly, emphasising that the survival of the health sector depends on effective solutions.
NARD’s leadership reiterated its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of resident doctors and called on the government to address the systemic issues threatening the country’s healthcare workforce.