FG Has Not Sacked Resident Doctors, Says Health Minister

Nigeria has denied reports that over 16,000 resident doctors have been sacked.After a statement suspending Residency Training Programme in Federal Hospitals, it was widely reported that the doctors had in effect been sacked in the aftermath of government’s anger over lingering strike by public sector doctors.
But Minister of Health Professor Oyebuchi Chukuw told State House Correspondents on Wednesday that nobody has been sacked.”They were not sacked, it is a matter of interpretation. For example, if someone while still working actively dies, or whether that person resigned or was dismissed or retired or terminated all mean different things in the public service’he said ,adding,”But the end point is that the person is no longer working.
He said further,“I want us to put things in perspective. Government did not sack anybody; it is true that they themselves have not been working for almost two months, except those in private hospitals.
“Resident doctors in both federal and state hospitals have not been working for almost two months now and they have not participated in the control of this Ebola virus disease, they have not played any role. “So, even if government had not taken any decision, they are not there, they are not working and I don’t know why suddenly the media starts taking interest in them. They are not part of this success story”the minister said
Chukwu continued :”But what happened is like in the aviation industry where when you buy a ticket and you fail to show up they say no show and they even penalize you. So there is no show of the resident doctors and even government is still paying them.
“People who are unemployed even some doctors will be asking government a question, is it because we did not have an appointment letter? What is the difference, you are paying people who are not working, we too are not working, why you are not paying us?
“Sometimes we need to think deeply about what we do to ourselves. Government says why can we use this period to appraise properly the residency programme and come up with something that can help the country.
He said further ,“Training of a doctor must be done properly. They have an allotted time to acquire skills. Anybody can pass the theoretical exams but has he acquired the skills?”adding ,”We need to be honest with ourselves.
“If you suspend any course do you keep students redundant? You give them opportunity if they feel you are wasting their time they can apply for other courses”the minister said.
“I believe we will quickly appraise this situation and hopefully government will resume residency programme because honestly we need to train doctors very well”.