Healthcare services at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) remained disrupted on Monday as the industrial action by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) entered its eighth day.
The strike, embarked upon in compliance with a directive from the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), followed prolonged but unsuccessful efforts to resolve welfare concerns with the hospital’s management.
At a press briefing on Monday, the ARD reiterated two key demands, describing them as non-negotiable: the immediate completion of the Resident Doctors’ Quarters and the restoration of call duty meals.
According to the association, resident doctors have been denied access to their residential quarters for more than 18 months due to an uncompleted renovation project.
The union said the prolonged delay has forced many doctors, some of whom commute long distances across Lagos, to sleep in their cars, hospital lounges and other unsuitable locations while continuing to provide essential healthcare services.
“This prolonged delay has significantly affected the welfare, safety and well-being of doctors,” the association said, urging the Federal Government to release the funds needed to enable the Chief Medical Director complete the renovation project.
The ARD also raised concerns over the alleged withdrawal of call duty meals for resident doctors.
According to the association, doctors routinely work shifts lasting more than 24 hours, often remaining on duty overnight to attend to emergency cases. It argued that because doctors cannot leave their duty posts to obtain food, call duty meals are an essential welfare provision rather than a privilege.
The association added that similar arrangements exist in other federal tertiary health institutions and urged LUTH to restore the provision.
The resident doctors appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, and other stakeholders to urgently intervene in the dispute.
The doctors warned that unless immediate steps are taken to improve their welfare and working conditions, the disruption of healthcare services at LUTH would continue.
“Our desire has always been to remain at the bedside caring for our patients,” the association said.
“However, quality healthcare cannot be sustained when the welfare and basic working conditions of healthcare workers are neglected.”
The ARD said it remains committed to constructive dialogue and expressed hope that the crisis would be resolved quickly.
