Crack in NMA as consultants resume work

Relying on the judgment of the National Industrial Court which stopped the Federal Government from implementing the agreement it had earlier reached with the Joint Health Sector Union and their planned strike, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria has assured all patients and Nigerians of its commitment to uninterrupted and high quality health care services in all hospitals across the country.



The association urged its members nationwide to ignore the ongoing strike called by the Nigerian Medical Association, saying they should continue to provide services to patients.

The NMA President, Dr. Kayode Obeme, had said that last week's interim injunction by the NIC has no link with the doctors strike as it was merely an issue between MDCAN and government.

"Every doctor is a member of NMA, other affiliates are allowed to operate also. We sought legal advice on the court injunction; our legal opinion is that the court order did not mention any reference to NMA and since it did not mention NMA, we don't want to dwell on it," he stated.

But the MDCAN said reports from hospitals nationwide and data collected from members after its meeting on Saturday in Ilorin, showed that members of the association -orthopedic surgeons, obstetricians, gynaecologists, infectious diseases specialists, physicians and several other specialists- had been attending to patients in various hospitals across the country.



In a statement on Sunday by its National President, Dr. Steven Oluwole, the consultants said they had been doing this "within the limits that are practicable in the current prevailing situation and circumstances."

The meeting was to review the state of healthcare delivery in the country.

Oluwole said, "We note, without reservations, the unnecessary rivalry that has thrown the health sector into endless cycles of strikes and threat of strikes.

"The MDCAN complies fully with the restraining order on all parties, which is contained in the ruling, delivered by Hon. Justice M.N. Esowe on June 27, 2014, on the Motion Ex-Parte for an Order of Interim Injunction in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/177/2014 [Incorporated Trustees of MDCAN v. Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity & Attorney-General of the Federation, ( pending before the National Industrial Court, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.

"In the same vein, MDCAN expects the other parties to the above suit to comply fully with the terms of the said restraining order. Branches of the MDCAN and individual consultants should continue to provide services to patients, but should exercise their professional judgement as to the best care feasible and practicable in the current situation.

"All patients and Nigerians are assured of our commitment to uninterrupted and high quality healthcare services. MDCAN pleads with the Federal Government of Nigeria to do all that is necessary to bring a quick end to the current impasse."