This
piece was first published in June 2009 edition of The Health Advocate, the
magazine of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Labour unions exist in every sector
of the economy and are recognized worldwide as a platform through which workers
seek to improve their general well being as well as that of the society. The
health sector is not left out as we have the Nigerian Medical Association for
medical doctors, Nigerian Dental Association for dentists, National Association
of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria,
Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Physiotherapists
among others. The primary goal of these labour unions in the health sector is
to ensure the welfare of her members which would eventually result into better
services at the various health institutions.
In fact, industrial disputes are
inevitable as it is normal to have employers and their employees take different
positions on policies or matters bothering on the welfare of the later. What is
important is for such disputes to be resolved timely and amicably through
dialogue and mutual respect. Unfortunately, this has not been the case in
recent times in the Nigerian health sector. Even when agreements are reached,
government at times does not implement them and in some instances suspend or
abrogate policies emanating there from.
As I write, the entire health workforce
in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital are on the eleventh week of an
indefinite strike action over the failure of the hospital management and state
government to implement an agreement to improve staff welfare and provide
adequate facilities in the hospital. The resident doctors in same hospital had
embarked on strike for three weeks over same issue last September and were also
forced to down tools for four days in February this year over the state of
insecurity in the same hospital. In a related development, doctors under the
employment of Lagos State government went on strike twice within the last the
last six months; their counterparts in Anambra State had just suspended an
almost eight month old strike a few months ago. Edo State doctors also had
dispute with the state government over an alleged outrageous taxation imposed
on private hospitals in the state.
Furthermore, resident doctors in
Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta reportedly downed tools because of an arrest
of one of their colleagues by an anti-graft agency while on duty post. Doctors
in Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Oshogbo have also embarked on
strike on at least two occasions within the last couple of years. In Abia State
University Teaching Hospital, Aba, resident doctors were also on strike over
the failure of the state government to implement the consolidated tertiary
institutions salary scale (CONTISS). It could be recalled that a few years ago,
doctors in the same hospital downed tools over an alleged physical assault on
their colleague by a spouse of one of the political top shots in the state.
Also in Oyo and Imo State, some health workers in the state were recently
reported to be on strike. I could go on and on.
As if the above were not enough, the
federal government inaction over the restoration of MSS/MSSS she unilaterally
suspended about eleven years ago compelled the National Executive Council (NEC)
of NMA to issue a 28 working the ultimatum to do so or face a nationwide
withdrawal of services by doctors. But for the success of the negotiations
between NMA and FG, Nigeria with her terrible health indices would have been
left without the services of doctors for some time. However, only the timely
implementation of the agreement would completely avert an industrial action.
The upsurge of industrial disputes
and withdrawal of services by health workers is so alarming and not expected in
any society with a people-oriented, responsible and responsive government. The
contributions of Nigerian doctors and other health workers to national
development cannot be over emphasized despite poor remunerations and
unconducive working environment. Without sounding immodest, no other sector or
group of workers make as much sacrifice like health workers. When people go to a
health institution for care, they would of course want to be attended to by
well trained and up-to-date health professionals with appropriate diagnostic
and therapeutic equipment and also in good time, anything short of this is not
acceptable. Ironically, same people criticize health workers when they withdraw
services to compel the government to make the hospitals better equipped and
more conducive for patients care.
Nigerian doctors are very diligent,
dedicated and go extra mile to care for their patients. We contribute money and
sometimes donate blood to save our patients, even when the patient’s relatives
may have abandoned them. This situation is commonly encountered in paediatrics
department where children usually present as emergency with life threatening
ailments and severe financial constraints on the part of the parents. I am sure
that doctors detest withdrawal of services. NMA rarely go on strike. This is
recently demonstrated in Ebonyi State where the state chapter of NMA despite
the unacceptable treatment of her colleagues in the teaching hospital and
sustained provocations by political jobbers in the state refused to be
compelled to embark on statewide withdrawal of services. Similarly, the
National Executive Council of NMA recently suspended her planned withdrawal of
services to allow the federal government act on their agreement over
restoration of MSS/MSSS.
It should be noted that the health
sector alone cannot thrive when other sectors are also torn apart by regular
industrial disputes, therefore, government must equally meet the demands of the
Nigerian Labour Congress, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nigerian Union
of Teachers, NUPENG/PENGASSAN, etc to move the nation forward.
Nevertheless, the ugly consequences
such as loss of lives resulting from industrial disputes in the health sector
are unquantifiable. Also, the adverse effects of the strikes in the education
and other sectors on manpower and socioeconomic development of the nation are
better imagined. The persistence of these regular industrial actions would not
only undermine the efforts to improve the nation’s health indices but would
also make the achievement of the Seven-point agenda, Vision 20-20 or the UN
millennium development goals a wild goose chase.
In conclusion, prevention is better
than cure; therefore, industrial action of any form should be avoided
especially in the health sector. This can only be possible if government at
various levels demonstrate strong political will by improving the situation of
health in Nigeria through motivation of health workers, provision of modern
diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in the hospitals as well as providing a
qualitative and affordable education at all levels; to say the least.
BY
DR LAZ UDE EZE
Dr Laz is a public Health Physician
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