By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Kaduna.
As the strike declared by the National Association of Resident Doctors NARD enters the second day, their members from Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna said they are among the poorest in renumeration among their peers in Nigeria.
This was contained in a communique issued after an emergency meeting held in Kaduna on friday 28th July by the associations to deliberate on the state of their affairs
The communique signed by Dr. Godwin Abrak; Chairman, Dr. Hassan Shuaibu Saliu; Secretary, and Dr. Maryam Lawal Makarfi RRO1 respectively stated that House-Officers and Resident Doctors in the State are paid about 35% and 30% less than those in federal institutionsrespectively. This act it said encourages the continuous exit of medical Doctors from the state health institution to federal ones or even out of the Country.
The Association; an affiliate of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) also expressed disappointment in the attitude of Kaduna State Government towards a residency training program in the States tertiary institution where some departments still have no accreditation and some already accredited departments are losing their accreditation.
It said the State has shown no significant effort with regards to the sponsoring of residency programme by not inducting the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) and thus, not considering payment of the Medical Residency Training Funds (MRTF).
This, it said makes it difficult for resident doctors who are due to update courses and examinations to participate.
It also decried non-implementation of the new hazard allowance and the reviewed full CONMESS Salary structure of the Kaduna State Government in the era of outbreak of infectious diseases and other health-related hazards with little or no protective measures andequipment put in place.
Same with delay of salary of newly employed doctors in the state, arrears of registrars and senior registrars.
The Association therefore demands for the immediate release of a circular for the replacement of exiting medical officers and/or the employment of new doctors to cope with low manpower.
The communique reads in part; “there is a lack of adequate accommodation, common rooms, and call rooms for the House officers and Resident doctors and that has created difficulties in timely attending to call duties and emergencies.
“Quick Implementation of the Federal Government’s new tax laws on the barely manageable State salary paid to doctors.
“Non-implementation of the new hazard allowance and the reviewed full CONMESS Salary structure of the Kaduna State Government in this era of outbreak of infectious diseases and other health-related hazards with little or no protective measures andequipment put in place.
“Delay of salary of newly employed doctors in the state, arrears of registrars and seniorregistrars.
“Urgent provision of adequate accommodations, call rooms, and common rooms for house officers and resident doctors and quick Implementation of the new federal government salary structure (CONMESS) as related to the already implemented federal government tax in Kaduna state, thisapplies to all house officers and resident doctors
“Prompt review of the new hazard allowance and its immediate payment in arrearsand payment of salary arrears of new doctors and upgraded senior registrars as at when due”.
They also called for the speedy release of funds for accreditation for non-accredited departments and renewal of expired accreditations for the others, immediate domestication of the Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA) in Kaduna state and payment of the medical residency fund among others.
It stressed that considering all efforts made in the past by the Association of Resident Doctors and the management of the Bureau Dikko Teaching Hospital to avert industrial action in the last3 years, the congress decided to offer services from 8am to 1pm daily starting from tomorrow Saturday 28th of July, 2023 for seven (7) days while they remain open for negotiations on the above demands.
It however warned that failure to meet their demands will leave them with no option but to embark on an indefinite strike.
