You are here: HomeOpinionsArticles2021 04 10Article 430006

Opinions of Saturday, 10 April 2021

Columnist: Dr Kemi Windapo

Hypocrisy or Hippocratic?

The last time I ever penned a tirade was my second year as a medical student in the Univerity of Lagos College of Medicine otherwise called Medilag. I was about to write my first professional exam, which at the time, I thought would be career-defining. My exam was uncertain, due to the #OccupyNigeria protests of the day.

Ten years later, medical school and internship behind me, I currently serve as the President of the Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta Chapter, Lagos State, whilst being an OBGYN in training. I had hoped for a seamless tenure, devoid of strike actions or other forms of industrial disharmony. But in my short stint as a leader, I have come to understand and uphold the mantra that ‘problem no dey finish’. (There seems no end to problems).

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in January made a decision to implement the central placement and payment of House officers (Intern medical doctors). While this is a welcome development to reduce the number of doctors who are unable to secure internship slots, the entire onboarding by the MDCN has been nothing short of a disaster. The excuse of the new system being fraught with errors should be totally and utterly rejected. What happened to a proper situation analysis, or feasibility study before engaging in such an important venture?

As a result of this poorly executed project, House Officers nationwide have been left to suffer for three gruelling months without pay. Some of these individuals are breadwinners, and have both parents and children to fend for. They have been rendered hungry, with no formal explanation or apology. These individuals are overworked, underpaid and underappreciated! In an era where the focus should be on eliminating the tide of brain drain in the healthcare sector, the MDCN has only added fire to a keg of gunpowder!

This is happening against the backdrop of a paltry sum of N5,000 paid to health workers as hazard allowance. An amount insufficient to treat malaria, or any life-threatening disease contracted on the job. This was seen at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; doctors on the field could not afford COVID-19 care!

In a dastardly show of shame, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngide, proclaimed on national TV the other day that doctors pay to get Residency in the US and in the UK. It beats me how one can tell such bold-faced lies in this age of the Internet. Perhaps, to make it even, we should compare what ministers in the UK earn against their Nigerian counterparts. This statement is indeed an insult to medical residency trainees, whose residency training funds have remained unpaid for 2019 and 2021, with many outstanding in 2020.

As the President of a single chapter of the ARD, I have had sleepless nights. I cannot begin to imagine what my leader, Dr. Osakhuesuyi Uyilawa and the National Officers Committee are going through at this unfortunate time. I empathise with the Nigerian population at this difficult time, because as with any industrial action of this magnitude, there will certainly be casualties.

Let it be known that this is a necessary struggle for Nigeria and Nigerians. It is a struggle against the tone-deaf regime of the day. It is sad that we are perennially saddled with leaders who fail to address issues as they come, but choose to negotiate when industrial disharmony is threatened. When all else fails, they resort to threats. Even bandits and militants get better treatment, as we have continued to witness almost on a daily basis.

As usual, when doctors take action to fight for what is duly owed them, we have been reminded countless times of the Hippocratic Oath and the need to stay true to it. My response to those who have said that is to actually read the Hippocratic Oath where it very clearly instructs us to attend to our own health, wellbeing and abilities, in order to provide care of the highest standard.