The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has apologised to Nigerians over the strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).
The resident doctors began an indefinite strike on Thursday, April 1, over salary arrears and owed allowances.
Addressing journalists on Sunday April 4 in Abuja, Enema Amodu, NMA chairman of the federal capital territory (FCT) chapter, said the association is “very sorry” but has to continue the strike for the sake of doctors’ welfare, to allow them meet the needs of patients.
Amodu said: “We are not insensitive; we hope that government and those in charge of the discussion with NARD will take it seriously, with a view to settling the issues at stake.
“To our patients, we are very sorry that you have to suffer this epileptic irregular healthcare service delivery; we have taken an oath to take care of you.
“But if a doctor is not in a sound state of mind and is not happy with what he or she is getting from the job, the doctor may not be in right frame of mind to discharge his or her duty right.
“And this will invariably affect you; by the time we get placed properly, renumeration and other welfare matters and facilities that we need to serve you, we will be able to serve you better with productive results.”