by crossriverwatch admin
Consultants in the University of Calabar teaching Hospital, UCTH, have proceeded on an indefinite industrial action following the non-payment of the their allowances since February this year.
The strike by the consultants called under the aegis of Medical and Dental Consultants Association Of Nigeria, MEDICAN has paralysed activities at the hospital as patients with special cases have started making arrangements to relocate to private clinics within town.
Dr. Ngim Ogbu Ngim, Secretary of the association sent out text messages with the information. “In line with the House decision during the last meeting, the 21 days ultimatum given the management has expired today. All members are hereby instructed to proceed on an indefinite industrial action from March 26, 2014 until the management pays full complement of our February salary.
“Please note that no consultant should offer clinical services under any guise and resident doctors/house officers are not to take on patients without consultant’s coverage for medicolegal reasons.
“However, only didactic lectures for the medical students should continue since we don’t have dispute with UNICAL.”
Checks at the hospital revealed that the junior doctors and nurses were taken aback by the consultants’ action as they were not notified earlier so as to stop further admission of new patients to avoid carnage in the hospital.
Some officials at the hospital confided in CrossRiverWatch that there are moves by the management to stop further admission of patients with serious cases as they are no consultants to handle such cases.
Reacting, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Thomas Agan, said the consultants are very crucial to the hospital as a lot of patients depend on their services.
“We appreciate that they are the ones that lay the golden egg but I plead that they lay good foundation for the students and avoid carnage in the hospital. We shall be glad to offer any assistance. We beg the members of MEDICAN to please return to work as management is making plans for the release of their outstanding allowances.” Agan appealed.
The CMD also appealed to the Ministry of Finance, the Accountant General’s office and budgetary office to expedite action in the release of the full complement of their salaries and shortfalls.
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