Following the continuation of the indefinite strike embarked upon by Nigerian doctors embarked since July 1, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the sack of all resident doctors in Nigerian hospitals.
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
The president’s directive was contained in a directive forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Health to suspend all residency training programmes for Nigerian doctors.
Through an internal memo dated August 13 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, L. N. Awute, to federal hospitals, Awufe said the president’s directive was given following an appraisal of the challenges facing the health sector.
“Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR has suspended the Residency Training Programme for Doctors in Nigeria indefinitely for the purposes of appraising the challenges facing the health sector,” Mr. Awute said in the letter.
He further said the Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, has also directed that “letters of termination of residency training” be issued to all affected resident doctors in hospitals immediately and that the management of all public hospitals have been instructed to take necessary measures to restore full medical services in the hospitals, even without the resident doctors.
“Note however, this is without prejudice to the employment of Locum Physicians on six (6) months renewable contract tied to productivity and good behaviour,” Awute added.
