Brain drain, deteriorating infrastructures, equipment, hampering effective healthcare delivery – NARD laments
By Faith Awa Maji
Copyright businessday
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has lamented the alarming rate of brain drain, deteriorating infrastructures and equipment at the healthcare facilities across the country saying it is hampering effective healthcare delivery and training of resident doctors.
NARD made this known in a communique jointly signed by Mohammad Usman Suleiman, President, Shuabu Ibrahim, Secretary General and Abdulmajd Yahya Ibrahim, Publicity and Social Secretary on Saturday, after a week of activities of the 45th annual general meeting held in Katsina, Katsina State.
According to the communique, “The AGM noted the alarming rate of brain drain in the Nigerian healthcare sector, with numerous competent medical professionals emigrating to developed countries due to poor working conditions and inadequate remuneration.
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“The AGM observed the deteriorating infrastructure and equipment in many healthcare facilities, significantly hampering effective healthcare delivery and training of resident doctors.
The AGM condemned the non-implementation of the special pension benefits as agreed with NMA in the MOU of 26th July 2025.
“NARD expressed grave concern over the prolonged call duty hours that Resident Doctors are currently subjected to, noting that the current unsustainable practice of spanning duties across several days poses serious risks to both physician wellbeing and patient safety”.
It further noted with deep concern the slow progress of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Nigerian Medical Association and the Federal Government, particularly regarding the review of the CONMESS Salay structure, which has remained unattended for the past 16 years.
“The AGM calls on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop and implement clear, healthy call duty working hours for doctors in line with international best practices.
“In the interim, the AGM directs that, effective 1st October 2025, members should desist from engaging in more than 24 hours of continuous call duty.
“The AGM demands that the Federal Government urgently pay all accumulated promotion arrears owed to our members across all federal institutions within 30 days.
“The AGM gives the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Management of FTH Lokoja 30 days to reinstate the five sacked medical doctors”, according to the resident doctors.
The AGM demands the prompt settlement of all arrears arising from the 25%/35% upward review of the CONMESS, the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance arrears, and
other outstanding salary arrears within 30 days.
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As part of its activities, it has engaged in what it called T-DROP (The Doctors’ Reach-Out Program): A comprehensive corporate social responsibility initiative involving: Donation of essential medical consumables and drugs to the Children’s Emergency Department of Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina, donation of medical supplies to the Adult Emergency Department of FTH Katsina.
