The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has warned doctors to desist from denying patients access to health care services during strike actions which has led to many avoidable deaths.
The registrar of the body, Tajudeen Sanusi, disclosed this in a letter dated January 4, 2024, and addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, and Specialised Hospitals.
The registrar said the new rule is based on the recent penchant of registered practitioners to engage in industrial action including strikes to enforce their labour rights.
The letter titled, “Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons in Hospitals during Strikes” obtained by our correspondent on Monday, noted that the abysmal conduct of shutting down the health sector has brought disrepute to the medical professions and will no longer be acceptable.
According to the letter, patients on admission must not be discharged merely because of a strike action.
It added that accidents and other emergency paediatrics units must remain open and manned by practitioners who had been scheduled on roasters based on the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 LFN 2004.
The letter read, “The prevalent practice where hospital patients are precipitously discharged from or denied access to wards, emergency units, labour rooms, etc on account of strike actions is not acceptable.
“While conceding that registered practitioners are entitled to demand and obtain their rights under the labour laws of Nigeria, the council frowns at conduct that endangers the health-seeking public and could bring disrepute to the medical and dental professions.
“Pursuant to the above, we wish to call the attention of the Chief Medical Directors, Medical Directors, and heads of healthcare institutions who are registered practitioners, to the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 LFN 2004, in sections1 (2c), 15(3a), 16(2) and Rules 45 and 50 of the Code of Medical Ethics in Nigeria 2008 Edition, the import of which are:
“Patients on admission should not be discharged merely on account of strike action: Accidents and Emergency, Emergency Paediatrics Unit, Labour Ward/Room, Neonatal Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit, and other points in the hospital for providing emergency and critical care must remain open and manned by practitioners who had been scheduled on roasters to man them.
“Patients who had been given appointments before the strike must be attended to.”
The registrar further warned that administrative practitioners will be held responsible and severely dealt with in case of any violation.
