When doctors go on strike

Some few years back, the government of my country wanted to restrict medical practitioners from leaving the country and relocating to other countries. In fact, the restrictions were implemented, but the force of freedom of movement did not allow them to hold for a long time. The thing is, medical practitioners have not really been given good attention right from the start, and it has grown worse in this era where, even if the medical body decides to go on strike, it does not yield anything positive. It just ends up making the situation of the country worse because these people are necessary, and it will affect the citizens more than it affects the medical practitioners or the government. This is why they resorted to relocating to other better countries where their pay and welfare are well taken care of.

Many times, we have heard of doctors and nurses going on a nationwide strike. The initial stage, especially before the actual day of the strike, is always intense with fear because the lives of the citizens at that moment will be put in danger. Imagine an accident occurring with many casualties, and there is no medical personnel available to attend to the situation — that would be very bad! The strike, however, once started, usually lasts for just a day before the government comes to terms and gives them their demands, which are in most cases just empty promises to do better. And when the situation returns to normal, the government turns its back on whatever it promised to do. For how long are the medical bodies going to continue this game? This is why recently, they do not often issue warnings before going on strike. Rather, they find their way out of the country to a better place where their values are well recognised.

Actually, the initiation of a strike is meant and supposed to push the government to make things right in the health sector, but the government has its own way of pulling back the strength of the medical organisations. Most of the government officials have the money to fly out of the country for medical treatment. Even if they do not want to travel abroad, they have the money to hire the best private medical personnel in the country. So, the effects of the lack of medical balance in the country do not get to them. This is why they pay very little attention to it, with the mindset that they are pushing more funds into the medical sector and other areas. Meanwhile, the funds being pushed into the medical sector are far below what they push into their personal pockets. It is so bad!

Some months ago, I received a call from a relative that she was taken to the hospital because of an appendicitis issue. I was hoping it was the general hospital (a government hospital) so that the bills would be more affordable, but no — the parents did not even consider it. They did not want to tell stories that touch the heart. Yeah, the general hospital in my community is one in which you need a connection to see the doctor. The doctor is always out attending to his private hospital and gives just 2% of his time to the general hospital. This is the situation in most hospitals in Nigeria. And when you dig deep, you will see that the doctors are not entirely at fault because it could be that the government is owing them or not paying them enough to meet their basic needs.

Thanks for reading.

This is my entry to Week 172, Edition 03 of the Weekly Featured contest in Hive Learners Community

Image used is mine