The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged state governors to fully implement the Chief Medical Residency Training Act (MRTA), emphasizing the need to regulate residency programs across Nigerian hospitals. This appeal was made during a press conference at NARD’s 44th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the association expressed concerns over insufficient funding for residency training, particularly in teaching hospitals.
NARD’s National President, Dr. Tope Osundara, highlighted that the MRTA is essential for maintaining the integrity of medical residency programs in Nigeria. He noted that without the Act, residency training could be disrupted arbitrarily by hospital medical directors, which would jeopardize the quality of care provided by inadequately trained doctors.
Dr. Osundara called on state governments to prioritize the MRTA's implementation, stating that many hospitals risk producing unqualified personnel if residency programs are left unregulated. He also criticized the lack of funding, stressing that doctors should not bear the financial burden of their training, as they are also engaged in vital medical research that requires government support.
He pointed out that some state governors have failed to adopt the MRTA, exacerbating the challenges faced by resident doctors. He praised Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri for leading efforts to implement the Act and urged other governors to follow suit.
Addressing the mass exodus of Nigerian doctors, Dr. Osundara attributed it to poor working conditions, inadequate pay, and overburdened healthcare staff, which has led to a growing mental health crisis among doctors. He highlighted that Nigeria has one doctor attending to about 600 patients, far exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended ratio, and called on the government to improve working conditions and pay to curb the brain drain.
Dr. Osundara also stressed the need for cooperation between stakeholders and security agencies to ensure the safety of healthcare workers, particularly in light of the rising kidnapping crisis. He made a special plea for the release of Dr. Popoola Ganiyat, who was abducted.
Additionally, NARD called for the immediate payment of outstanding Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and accoutrement allowance arrears. The association criticized the harsh policies of some Chief Medical Directors, particularly at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, which it said are harmful to resident doctors’ welfare.
The 44th NARD AGM highlighted the ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including residency training, brain drain, and doctors' welfare, and urged the government to address these systemic issues to safeguard the nation’s healthcare workforce. NARD reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of resident doctors.
