The National Association of Resident Doctors( NARD,) has declared a total and Indefinite Strike.
The Association led by Dr Emeka Orji is demanding among others, immediate payment of the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund,( MRTF) and the immediate increment of 200% of the consolidated medical salary structure ( CONMESS)
Others include the reversal of a Downgrading of Membership Certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Massive recruitment of clinical staff in hospitals, immediate infrastructural development in hospitals and allocation of at least 15% of budgetary provisions to health.
NARD had on May 17,2023 embarked on a two- week warning strike following the failure of the government to meet its demands and had given the government July 19 deadline to meet its demands or face total strike action.
Members of the NARD are the foot soldiers of the Nigerian Medical Association and said to constitute about 40% of the population of medical doctors in hospitals at the state and national levels.
The strike coming in the middle of the removal of fuel subsidy and attendant sore impact, accessing healthcare would prove very challenging to many Nigerians .
