Resident doctors pick up gowns, steths, return to work, but…

After 10 gruelling days for patients in governmenthospitals, it is time to smile again, as members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) called off their strike.

However, there is a caveat: the strike was only suspended for four weeks and residents may resume the strike after four weeks if government fails to meet all their demands.

After an agreement reached with the government on Friday night, the association called its strike on Saturday evening after a virtual meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC).

President of NARD, Dr Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa, confirmed the decision of NARD to return to their duty posts.

Okhuaihesuyi disclosed some of members’ demands that were met to include:

▪︎ abolishment of bench fee by House Officers,

▪︎those on GIFMIS to be paid and integrated into Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPIS) in the next one week,

▪︎ a promise to work on salary shortfall for House Officers within 48 hours.

But doctors working in isolation centres will be resumed on Saturday while others will resume on Monday.

The doctors embarked on an indefinite strike on April 1 after the expiration of a 60-day ultimatum given to the federal government to meet their demands.