Before we crucify medical doctors let us ensure we are armed with the necessary information to make a reasonable judgment. Most often atimes, the general public are blindsided by the government during strike actions with political dramas in an effort to demonize those citizens who dare to fight for what they believe in. Unfortunately, nobody has the resources to match the government in media propaganda as such; the undue advantage. Also, in the court of public opinion, emotion tends to predetermine the verdict. No one dares to stand these two weapons and in the end, this ongoing industrial action by medical doctors might just be for nothing.

Notwithstanding, do you ever wonder why India, South Africa, Dubai and even Ghana are not just destinations for fun lovers and students especially for Nigerian folks? If you've ever taken a personal trip to any of these places, then perhaps you might have sat side by side a frail person enroute these destinations for medical attention. People travel to India for dialysis, Doppler Ultrasound Scan and many more simple procedures because they'd have to wait for months or most likely till death before its their turn in Nigeria. And for the affluent and not so affluent, their wives no longer give birth in this country because its simply one of, if not the worst place to give birth in the world. I would not even want to dwell much on political office holders because most of their reasons for political tourism are just ridiculous.

It would even be unfair to cite examples with procedures like transplants, joint replacement surgeries; laser surgeries etc. that often necessitates travels to places like India and Egypt. The truth is that they are relatively cheaper and access is easier in these places. And they do a better job because all the necessary state of the art facilities are at their disposal. Plus you don't get consulted by a 'burned out doctor.'

These challenges have lingered for several years and are continually killing our health care sector. But as it is with most sectors of this country, no one cares enough to do a root cause analysis with a view of Ínstituting long lasting solutions. Many people just assume its all part of being a Nigerian; nothing is meant to work. And the general public that is at the receiving end don't even see the challenges facing the health sector as a reason to pressure the government. As far as hospitals are open, we just don't care about the quality of services-even if its outright butchery.

We have the manpower, but the will power of the political class to revolutionize the system is lacking-but again who will remind them of the need to?

One of the biggest challenges right now is the fact that conduct and procedures within the health sector are being politicised for cheap gains. Government is manuevering numenclatures and that cannot be allowed to happen. The term 'Consultant' is reserved for a medically qualified person who has passed through postgraduate medical training. Its a standard. Simple and short!

An industrial action within the health care system cannot be rationalised. And considering the proximities of life and death in a doctor's job, ethical arguments usually erupt when strike actions are embarked upon. A rather pan misconception exist that doctors are bound by the Hippocratic Oath and as such are breaching their ethical responsibilities during strike actions. First of all, Hippocratic Oaths are sworn by fresh medical graduates and are basically for patients benefitting in doctor-patient relationship on an individual basis. Doctors even have a greater responsibilty to the general public's health than towards treatment of an individual under their care as such doctors cannot give room for poor quality care if betterment can only be achieved through strike action. Infact, what is unethical and borderline immoral is when doctors don't strike during PATIENT ENDANGERING CIRCUMSTANCES like inadequate funding of health care facilities, poor standard of residency training, empowerment of non-medically qualified individuals to embark on direct patient care etc.

Ethical guidelines are a description of a doctor's duty and they identify particular PRIMA FACIE obligation which guide moral behavior. Medicine upholds two important principles which are the DUTY OF FIDELITY(obligation to keep promises)and BENEFICENCE(obligation to try to do good, to actively help others). These principles might appear to stand against strike action, but one should not forget that keeping promises and doing good applies to current patients and not future ones. DUTY OF JUSTICE must also be considered. Justice is often defined in terms of fairness and equity but we must understand that justice is not limited to others but also to oneself and family.

In the past when Nigeria was still a dictatorship, most medical doctors left for other climes with saner governments because of the continuous decay in the system. As a doctor, nothing gives you more satisfaction than the lives you save and nothing depresses you more than the death you could have averted. We are in a democracy now, international best practices can be institutionalized in our country and someone must stand for it.

All that is necessary for evil to triumph over good is when everyone decides to fold their arms and do nothing. A strike action is sadly the only way doctors can draw the attention of our 'democratic' government to the decay in the health sector. But it will yield little or no result if the public does not personalize this struggle and join the quest for an improved health care system.


This piece was originally written by Dr. Abdu Adamu.

this write up would have made a lot of sense if doctors were actually fighting for improved healthcare facilities in Nigeria. but hell no! they are fighting for money and power. preventing others from reaching the apex of their career doesn't improve healthcare, neither does appointing 4 deputy cmacs. hazard allowance of 100k? oversea residency training, and oposing such for others? preventing mlscn from doing its legitimate duty? ......accept it, this strike isn't about improving healthcare, its about money and power.

And their sack is even more morally and ethically wrong.

i have anayze d current action of docs n its downright wrong from all points of view

if its money they want, they r free to seek greener pastures eslewhere

from d ethical point of view docs score zero

they even fail d nationalistic test cos d action z not d best interest of 9ja

doc ve no moral justification 4 strike

as pros i dont expect dis motor park behaviour, in develope climes strikes r associated wt truck drivers, rail workers etc not pros like doctors. They shld act their age

hushmail: in develope climes strikes r associated wt truck drivers, rail workers etc not pros like doctors. They shld act their age

And how are doctors treated in those "develope climes"?