Lagos Medical Advisory Committee Warns Striking Doctors

Dr Ore Falomo, the Chairman, Lagos State Medical Advisory Committee, has warned doctors in the state who are currently on strike that their action is “a flagrant abuse of their professional calling’’.

He told journalists in Lagos on Friday that the state government was currently recruiting new doctors who would replace those who were on strike.

He?stressed that the striking doctors had violated the “Hippocratic Oath'' that guided the medical profession.

He quoted that oath as stating that “doctors must avoid the death of patients, irrespective of their grievances or socio-economic status and also finish every medical procedure they have started on any patient.''

Falomo said that as part of efforts to restore normalcy to the state’s health care delivery system, the state government would also deploy NYSC doctors to all emergency departments in the state hospitals.

“We are not justifying whether there should be a strike or not, but this is a noble profession that has to do with lives.

“This is why we are saying that there are better ways for the doctors to achieve their aims and objectives, instead of embarking on strike at the slightest opportunity.

“Nobody can pay doctors enough for their services but they should change their methodology,’’ he said.

Falomo, who disclosed that 25 per cent of the striking doctors had already been replaced, appealed to?specialists at the hospitals to oversee emergency surgical procedures.

Reading the riot act to the striking doctors, Falomo stressed that henceforth, House Officers and Resident Doctors in the state would sign an undertaking never to engage in a strike.

“The Head of Service and the Ministry of Justice would also be encouraged to take appropriate actions on erring doctors

“Salaries of doctors who are actively on duty presently should be paid, while they are compensated for extra work done. However, the salaries of those on strike should be withheld and subjected to appropriate consideration.

“Civil Service Rules and Regulations should be enforced to serve as a deterrent to future strikes by medical doctors.”

Falomo said that the committee viewed the current doctors’ strike?as unwarranted, a flagrant abuse of their professional calling, poor mentoring by the senior doctors and a display of poor leadership by their executive members.

“We seize this opportunity to ask them to sheathe their sword, while creating a better atmosphere for proper dialogue and lobbying when necessary,’’ he said.

Falomo said that in the meantime, the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria had offered?some assistance by attending to patients.

Dr Tosin Ajayi, a member of?the committee,?said?that workers in the medical profession could not go on strike impulsively.

“We are not against what they are asking for but as doctors, they cannot suddenly down?tools and discharge patients.

“We are not operating a newspaper or transport service; when it comes to human lives, we have to tread softly,’’ he added.

Ajayi urged the doctors to embrace the dialogue option and discuss with the government ways of finding speedy and lasting solutions to their grievances. (NAN)