The National Association Residents Doctors (NARD) has warned that it would embark on an indefinite strike from March 31 if the Federal Government fail to pay the life insurance of their members who lost their lives while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National President of NARD, Dr Uyilawa Okhuaihesuyi, handed the warning on Thursday in an interview with The Punch, adding that at least 17 of its members had died of COVID-19 while their families were not given any insurance claim.
He said: “The families of doctors who died of COVID-19 have not been paid. They have been left behind and their families are struggling. Resident doctors under GIMFIS (Government Integrated Financial Management Information System; an IT based system for budgeting and accounting) haven’t been paid in over three months and you are trying to curb brain drain?
“About 3,824 of our doctors were exposed to COVID-19 while 1, 600 were infected. About 17 died. The government said a premium would be paid, however, as we speak, nothing has been done. No family member has been given anything and they claim all doctors have been insured.