The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a directive banning its members nationwide from taking continuous calls beyond 24 hours, warning that the practice has become a “silent killer” of young doctors.
The directive also mandates a mandatory call-free period after every call. The association described the decision as “not just necessary but vital, in line with the principles of self-preservation enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath.”
NARD said its decision was not oblivious of the grim statistics, pointing to Nigeria’s worsening doctor-to-patient ratio.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends one doctor to 600 patients. But in Nigeria, with a population of over 240 million and only about 11,000 resident doctors, the ratio stands at 1:9,083,” it said noting that resident doctors in Nigeria work an average of 106.5 hours per week, while surgical residents put in as much as 122.7 hours weekly.
“This translates to an average of four to five days of 24-hour call duty per week. It inevitably leads to increased medical errors due to burnout, endangers patient safety, and takes a severe toll on the mental, physical, and psychological well-being of doctors,” the association noted.
The doctors lamented that many colleagues have died under these harsh conditions, leaving behind dependants without support, stressing, “While the nation celebrates, we quietly bury our colleagues as the country watches in silence. The bigger question is: how many more lives must we lose before decisive action is taken?”
NARD stressed that those who have chosen to remain in Nigeria despite the ongoing brain drain are “nothing short of patriots and heroes” who deserve protection and equitable remuneration To address the crisis, the association called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, to implement a one-to-one replacement policy to reduce the crushing workload on doctors.
It also urged the government to establish clear regulations that curb excessive call hours to safeguard the lives of both doctors and patients.
“As Nigeria celebrates 65 years of nationhood, it is time to reflect not only on our progress but also on the sacrifices of resident doctors who keep the health system running under unbearable strain.
“We cannot continue to lose our members to preventable and avoidable deaths — not now, and not in the future.”