The Nigeria Medical Association on Thursday threatened to sanction members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, who are currently on strike.
The doctors, the NMA said, did not follow due process before embarking on the industrial action.
The striking doctors are protesting against the alleged breach of agreement by the Federal Government.
However, the NMA, in a statement by its President, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, and the Secretary-General, Dr. Akpufuoma Pemu, said it was “embarrassed by the doctors’ industrial action.”
Frowning on the strike, the NMA recalled that during the first national healthsummit in Asaba last January, doctors resolved to stop embarking on strike without first seeking “constructive and peaceful means for dispute resolution.”
The statement said, “NMA therefore restates that whereas its affiliate bodies (of which NARD is one of the seven recognised) are at liberty to pursue their aspirations without trepidation, the NMA would however not withhold applying the strongest sanctions on any erring affiliate body or individual member for violating the extant laws/constitutional provisions of the association or for bringing the association/medical profession to public disrepute.”
Apologising to the citizenry for the “avoidable deaths and healthcomplications” that could result from the strike, the NMA urged the leadership of NARD “to consider appeals from various quarters to call off the strike to allow for a constructive and mature engagement with the relevant offices of government.”
The association also appealed to the Federal Government “to correct the observed budgetary shortfall and apply all necessary administrative sanctions to any erring head of health institution.”
The NMA equally commended the Federal Government “for restoring the overseas clinical training for doctors, her resolve to institute for the first time a special budget for residency training, and other training initiatives.”
Culled: Punchng
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