LAGOS DOCTORS BEGIN INDEFINITE STRIKE

The crisis rocking the Lagos State Health sector took a new turn on Tuesday, as doctors in the employ of the state government embarked on an indefinite strike.

The doctors, under the aegis of Medical Guild, accused the state government of victimisation, and called for negotiations over the implementation of agreements reached by the parties in 2011.

Some of the doctors, who had already been served queries for joining a three-day warning strike observed earlier in the month, also declined to appear before the Personnel Management Board (PMB) on Tuesday.

The Medical Guild chairman, Olumuyiwa Odusote, said the union decided that no doctor should appear before the committee because "it was illegal".

"All doctors should go home from this moment and wait for further directives," he said.

At the Health Service Commission, Lagos Island, where the doctors were expected to defend their queries, over 20 armed police officers stood guard at the gates, causing some apprehension in the area.

This action seemed to have infuriated and spurred the doctors to embark on the latest industrial action.

"So we say no to the intimidation of doctors because it's unfair," said Babajide Saheed, the president of the Association of Resident Doctors, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital branch.

"It's very unfortunate that a democratic government could be so undemocratic; the strike was called by the association and not by the doctors given queries."

However, the doctors promised to suspend the strike if the state government stops the alleged victimisation of Lagos doctors and starts negotiations with them.

Meanwhile, the fate of patients in over 20 general hospitals and a teaching hospital hang in the balance pending the resolution of the issue.

Patients at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital have, however, appealed to the two parties to resolve the dispute.

A pregnant woman, Chinonye Onike, who was supposed to put to bed through Caesarean Section, said she could not get a doctor to attend to her.

Another lady, Banke Alagbe, who was scheduled for an operation on Tuesday, had to return home in despair.

"We beg the government to negotiate because we can't afford to go to a private clinic," she said.

The doctors are pressing for the implementation of an agreement reached with the state government last year, which includes improved salary and allowances.