Amid Coronavirus Scare, Enugu Teaching Hospital Doctors Fail To Call Off Strike

There is fear in Enugu, the Enugu State capital as the ongoing five-day warning strike embarked upon by the over 200 resident doctors of Enugu State University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Parklane, enters the fourth day.

The development has sparked fears over what could happen if anyone was found positive to the Coronavirus in the city.

 Medical consultants and other health workers were seen carrying out skeletal services at wards while abrupt discharging of patients continues when THE WHISTLER visited on Monday.

It was gathered that most patients at the hospital have sought medical services elsewhere.

The busiest hospital in the state is now a shadow of itself as the over 200 resident doctors employed there had down tools and switched-off their phones.

A patient told our correspondent that she was waiting for a vehicle to evacuate her to another hospital.

It was gathered that the state government’s non-compliance with the deal it signed with the resident doctors in 2009 prompted the strike.

 A doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We agreed on the implementation of the national COMESS and CONHESS salary structure since 2009. It is only this state that is yet to implement it. Recall that other health workers of ESUT teaching hospital were on strike when Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi became governor.

“He appealed to the doctors to sheath their sword, promising to implement the salary structure in the first quarter of his administration. The doctors however got 70 percent implementation. Since then, the only thing that we got was 10 percent minimum wage which started last month.”

Efforts to speak with the leadership of the resident doctors failed as their phones were switched off.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State government yesterday condemned the strike, saying it ‘contradicts the creeds of the Hippocratic Oath’ sworn to by all medical doctors.

A statement from its ministry of health read, “It is worrisome that this action is coming at such a time the federal and various state government are grappling with the challenge of the new Coronavirus outbreak. It is expected that a notice of the purported strike should have been given at least 24 hours. Worse, all the key officials of ARD ESUTH PARKLANE HOSPITAL have their phones switched off.”

It stated that the doctors were not being owed salaries, adding that, “discussion on further enhancement of the welfare of doctors and other health care personnel at ESUTH Parklane Hospital is being looked into by a committee.”

The statement further warned that ‘any complications arising from this unlawful action will be seriously dealt with’.