Lagos begins recruitment of new doctors

APRIL 30, 2012 BY BUKOLA ADEBAYO 

Chairman, Lagos State Medical Advisory Committee to the State Governor, Dr. Ore Falomo,  says the government has begun to recruit new doctors to replace the striking ones.

He said the measure was to avoid future disruption of services  in the state’s hospitals.

Falomo, who spoke at a news conference by the committee in Lagos accused the doctors of using strike as a perennial tool to express their dissatisfaction at the expense of the lives of the patients.

 “More than a quarter of the new doctors are being recruited to replace those on strike and NYSC medical doctors should be assigned to emergency services,” he said.

Falomo said the striking doctors had violated the Hippocratic Oath that guides the medical profession.

 According to him, the oath states that a doctor must avoid the death of patients irrespective of their grievances or socio-economic status and also finish every medical procedure they have started on any patient.

Falomo, whose committee consists of elderly doctors of  the medical profession in the country, enjoined the state government to put in place measures that would  prevent future strikes by doctors without proper consultations.

He advised that as a disciplinary measure, the salaries of striking doctors should be withheld while doctors on active duty should be compensated.

He also called on specialists on ground to take care of emergency surgical procedures.

Also, Chairman, First Foundation, Dr.Tosin Ajayi, criticised the doctors for abandoning the emergency departments of  the state hospitals.

He, however, noted that although the committee was not against the striking doctors’ agitation for the full implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Scale, their grievances could have been negotiated without them going on strike.

SOURCE: The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper 30 April 2012.