The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has announced plans to commence an indefinite nationwide strike on November 1, citing the federal government’s failure to meet its long-standing demands.
The decision followed a five-hour meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Mohammad Suleiman, NARD President, said the strike directive followed the expiration of a 30-day ultimatum earlier issued to the government.
The doctors are demanding a 200 percent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), full implementation of the new allowances proposed in July 2022, immediate recruitment of clinical staff, and removal of administrative bottlenecks hindering the replacement of exiting doctors.
“The NEC has marshalled out minimum demands, strike monitoring directives, and ‘no work, no pay/no pay, no work’ resolutions needed for a successful execution of this action,” Suleiman said.
He added that the National Officers Committee (NOC) has been mandated to ensure full compliance with the directive and enforce strike monitoring across all centres.
The NARD leadership has also directed its centre presidents and general secretaries to convene emergency congress meetings to brief members on the resolutions.
Suleiman accused some government and non-government actors of “evil and exploitative plans” against resident doctors, warning that the association would “collectively resist” any such moves.
He urged members to use the days leading up to the strike to hand over patients, engage community and religious leaders, and sensitise the public on the reasons behind the action.