Resident doctors at UCH Ibadan join NARD’s nationwide strike, leaving hundreds of patients stranded as services grind to a halt.
Resident doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Friday fully complied with the nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The industrial action, aimed at pressing home demands for improved welfare and working conditions, has left hundreds of patients stranded at the tertiary health facility.
Witnesses at the hospital reported long queues and disrupted services in critical units, including emergency wards, outpatient clinics, and diagnostic centres. Many patients expressed frustration over the sudden halt in medical care, appealing to the government and health authorities to urgently address the grievances of the striking doctors.
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The NARD strike, which began earlier this week, is part of a broader call for timely payment of salary arrears, improved hazard allowances, better infrastructure, and an end to the mass exodus of medical professionals. Healthcare experts warn that if the impasse persists, it could worsen the already strained healthcare system in Oyo State and beyond.
UCH management has urged patients to remain calm while efforts continue at the federal level to negotiate with NARD and resolve the dispute.
