By Ayo Okulaja, AfricaNews reporter in Lagos, Nigeria
A number of deaths are recorded daily across government-owned hospitals in Nigeria's commercial city, Lagos, due to an indefinite strike called by the doctor's union. Patients on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, who were allegedly not cared for as a result of the strike had passed away, ditto all the other medical centres.
The doctors under the auspices of Medical Guild embarked on an indefinite strike after the Lagos state government issued a query to them, last Tuesday after they called off a three days warning strike, the doctors undertook April 11-13, 2012.
Putting patients at the peril of the huge price/bill of private hospitals, the doctors of the state-owned health institutions are embarking on the strike to demand negotiations over their salary.
Lagos state is one of the most populous cities in the world, with an estimated population of 20 million, most of whom live on less than a dollar day, thereby can’t afford adequate health care.
The state government provides subsidised healthcare for the poor in these state-owned clinics which dots the city. There are 24 general hospitals owned by the Lagos state government and patients who visit the clinics have since been denied treatment.
When AfricaNews visited the General Hospital, Ikorodu, one of the state owned hospitals, empty beds were in seen in the general wards as the pharmacy and consultation rooms that normally has loads of patients and their care-givers was absolutely empty. Most of the consulting rooms were either shut or inactive while the emergency ward was deserted.
Two accidents victims were rushed to the hospital and nurses on duty provided first-aid services and urged the victims to further get the treatment of their fractured bone at an orthopaedic hospital.
The nurses, who declined to mention their names, said they are trying their best to help patients they can help.
Recruiting new doctors
With the renewed strike, the Lagos state government has now commenced a procedure to recruit new doctors to replace the striking ones.
The Chairman, Lagos State Medical Advisory Committee to the State Governor, Dr. Ore Falomo, said the measure was to avoid future disruption of services in the state’s hospitals.
“More than a quarter of the new doctors are being recruited to replace those on strike and NYSC medical doctors should be assigned to emergency services” he said.
Noting that the striking doctors had violated the Hippocratic Oath that guides the medical profession, Dr Falomo accused the doctors of using strike as a perennial tool to express their dissatisfaction at the expense of the lives of the patients.
According to him, “the oath states that a doctor must avoid the death of patients irrespective of their grievances or socio-economic status and also finish every medical procedure they have started on any patient.”
The committee which consists of elderly doctors of the medical profession in the country enjoined the state government to put in place measures that would prevent future strikes by doctors without proper consultations.
He advised that as a disciplinary measure, the salaries of striking doctors should be withheld while doctors on active duty should be compensated.
He also called on specialists on ground to take care of emergency surgical procedures.
According to the Chairman of the Medical Guild, Dr. Olumuyiwa Odusote, the doctors were forced to embark on the industrial action following the failure of the state government to implement the wage agreement it reached with the union.
“The state government has continued to fool the doctors with what he described as ‘flimsy excuses’ not to pay the approved and signed salary structure. It is unfortunate the state government has refused to prevent the strike” he said.
Doctors’ strikes in the Lagos state health system has been due to the negotiations on the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
In September 2010, Lagos doctors embarked on a three-month strike to demand an implementation of the CONMESS structure which will ensure that the doctor’s on the payroll of the state government earn the same as their colleagues with the federal government of Nigeria.
The Lagos state consented to the doctors’ demands and the governor, Babatunde Fashola approved 75 per cent salary increase for the medical personnel.
The doctors are now demanding a full implementation of the CONMESS as they alleged the state government via excessive tax deductions is ripping them off their take-home.
Kenya launches universal HPV vaccine access t…17/05
Malawi Electoral body appeals for ethical…17/05
Amplats to cut 6,000 jobs in South Africa10/05
Kofi Annan: Africa plundered by secret mining…10/05
Bomb blasts rock Libyan city of Benghazi10/05
Kenya calls on UN to drop Kenyatta trials10/05
Zanu PF Spruces up Voter Victimization…02/05
Africa Oil & Gas, Finance & Investment…02/05
