The Medical and Dental Council Of Nigeria has warned doctors against denying patients access to health care services during strike actions.
The registrar of the MDCN, Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, disclosed this in a letter dated January 4, 2024, and addressed to the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres, and Specialised Hospitals.
The registrar said the new rule is based on the recent penchant of registered practitioners to engage in industrial action including strikes to enforce their labour rights.
The letter titled, “Conduct of Registered Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons in Hospitals during Strikes” obtained by our correspondent on Monday, noted that the abysmal conduct of shutting down the health sector has brought disrepute to the medical professions and will no longer be acceptable.
According to the letter, patients on admission must not be discharged merely because of a strike action.
It added that accidents and other emergency paediatrics units must remain open and manned by practitioners who had been scheduled on roasters based on the provisions of the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act Cap M8 LFN 2004.
The registrar further warned that administrative practitioners will be held responsible and severely dealt with in case of any violation.
