The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged the National Assembly to promptly pass a law that would consider assaulting healthcare professionals as a criminal act in Nigeria. In a statement released on Sunday after its January National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the association highlighted a surge in the number of attacks against doctors while they are carrying out their duties. Instances of recent cases were observed at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital in Osogbo, and the recent one in the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Lokoja.
Reports have been officially confirmed by the FTH management, highlighting instances where angry relatives of a deceased patient physically attacked both staff members and security personnel within the hospital premises. Abdulrahman Abdullahi, the FTH Hospital’s Head of Public Relations, reported that despite initially urging them to seek treatment in another health facility due to a full emergency ward, the relatives persistently alleged negligence as the cause of death. However, they disregarded this advice and chose to wait instead.
Medical Association urged FG to improve security across the country.
According to Mr. Abdullahi, the patient was admitted to the emergency ward after a 30-minute wait. He was promptly given a bed and received continuous care. Unfortunately, his condition worsened, and despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead. In light of this incident, the association has urged the Nigerian government to improve security measures in the country, specifically around hospitals and workplaces. The NEC’s decision mandates that any instance of assault towards its members will lead to an instantaneous termination of all services, allowing them to prioritise their safety.
A study conducted by NARD regarding the issue of Workplace Violence against Doctors revealed that an alarming number of 345 cases involving violence against Nigerian doctors were reported in 2022. stating that 74 percent of these attacks necessitated medical intervention, with an additional 15 percent posing a threat to their lives. According to the report, a significant 65 percent of the incidents were attributed to patient loss, while 56 percent were a result of patients not receiving timely attention due to workload. Another 41 percent were caused by inadequate communication, and finally, 28 percent were specifically linked to insufficient security and surveillance.
Between 8 and 38 percent of healthcare staff experience physical violence.
Also, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that the well-being of healthcare staff is severely compromised by violence directed towards them, with consequential effects on their psychological and physical state, as well as their work motivation. WHO reveals that a significant percentage, ranging between 8.0 and 38 percent, experience physical violence during their professional journeys, predominantly inflicted by patients and visitors. During the Abuja health summit from January 30th to February 3rd, the doctors presented their request for compensating their accoutrements allowance at the NEC meeting.
In the year 2023, the payment of a special allowance worth ₦25,000 was approved by the FG for doctors practising in hospitals, medical centres, and clinics within the federal public service. Surprisingly, despite this approval, the CMDs and MDs in tertiary health institutions have not yet initiated the disbursement of the sanctioned account allowance, according to a statement from NARD. The NEC expressed its disappointment at the lack of adherence by the Federal Government and Ministry of Finance regarding the enhancement of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and various allowances. Moreover, the NEC noted its members’ discontent with the extensive delay in receiving their skipping arrears and the prolonged wait for salary and promotion arrears.
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Lastly, the organisation pleaded with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to require all tertiary health institutions’ CMDs/MDs to provide the accoutrement allowance to their members as distributed. The NEC also requested the Federal Government to diligently revitalise the economy and aid in restraining the growing problem of inflation and adversity, pushing skilled medical professionals to leave the country. The request was made to the respective exam boards to retract the rise in exam fees so that resident doctors could financially manage their registration expenses. The NEC decided that the local chapters should discuss and develop a plan, which will be communicated in no less than four weeks. Then, an Extraordinary NEC meeting will be scheduled.
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