Key points:
- NARD bans calls beyond 24 hours from October 1. The rule covers all resident doctors across Nigeria.
- Leaders list grim hours and risks for members. They warn, we cannot lose lives to preventable deaths.
- Average work hits 106.5 hours each week for residents. Surgical residents log 122.7 hours with four to five calls.
Resident doctors in Nigeria have set a firm cap. From October 1, calls will not exceed 24 hours. They say this change will guard lives and health.
NARD shared the rule in a joint press note. Dr Mohammad Suleiman signed as the group’s president. Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim and Dr Abdulmajid Ibrahim also signed.
Why NARD sets the cap
Nigeria now faces a hard lack of trained hands. Many doctors leave for pay and fair work abroad. Officials say over 16,000 left within five to seven years.
Hospitals feel the heat as staff numbers fall fast. Training schools feel strain from low staff and high needs. The heavy load lands on those who still serve.
Hours, ratios, and risk
NARD points to a poor doctor to patient ratio. They put it at one to 19,083 across the land. That shows a gap from what top global rules set.
They say resident doctors now stand around eleven thousand. So the ratio is one to 9,083 for residents. The group calls this gap a clear risk sign.
Work hours paint a tough, bleak view for members. Residents work an average 106.5 hours each week. Surgical residents log near 122.7 hours each week.
That means four to five full day calls every week. Leaders say this harms care and harms doctor well-being. They stress, we must not lose lives we can save.
The push follows a recent five-day warning strike by doctors. Unions said rosters and pay set that row in motion. States also probe care gaps tied to hospital staff lapses. Akwa Ibom exposed an absent consultants case after linked deaths surfaced.
Hospitals will plan rosters that meet the 24-hour cap rule. Units will track hours to keep staff safe and alert. NARD says swift, strict use can lift care now nationwide.
This step marks a stand for clear, sane work. It aims to guard patients while doctors guard their health. More talks may follow on pay, staff, and safe tools.
