FCT Resident Doctors Demand Urgent Reforms in Health Sector
Resident doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have renewed their call for sweeping reforms in the health sector, warning that continued neglect could plunge the system into deeper crisis.
The doctors, under the umbrella of the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT chapter (ARD-FCT), voiced their concerns during their third quarter Ordinary General Meeting in Abuja.
They decried the deteriorating state of public hospitals within the FCT, describing them as overstretched, underfunded, and poorly equipped to cater to the health needs of residents.
According to the association, most district and general hospitals are currently grappling with inadequate manpower, obsolete equipment, and poor working conditions that have left doctors demoralized and patients underserved.
They noted that these challenges, coupled with delays in the payment of allowances and outstanding entitlements, are worsening the exodus of medical professionals from the country.
“The situation in our hospitals is no longer sustainable. We are dealing with equipment that is outdated, facilities that are overcrowded, and staff who are not motivated due to poor welfare. If urgent reforms are not carried out, service delivery will continue to suffer, and patients will be at greater risk,” the association stated.
The doctors outlined specific areas where immediate intervention is needed, including the recruitment of additional personnel, rehabilitation of hospital facilities, provision of functional equipment, and prompt settlement of outstanding arrears.
They emphasized that these reforms should not be handled in isolation but as part of a broader long-term strategy to strengthen the FCT health system.
The renewed call follows a series of labour disputes earlier this year, including a three-day warning strike by FCT doctors in May over the dismissal of health workers and unpaid salaries.
Although the strike was suspended after government intervention, the doctors say the underlying issues remain unresolved.
Lawmakers have also expressed alarm at the state of health care in the nation’s capital. The House of Representatives recently urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on the FCT health sector, calling for urgent intervention funds, improved infrastructure, and accelerated recruitment of medical staff.
The FCT Administration has announced the employment of a limited number of new doctors and pledged to address some of the equipment shortages.
However, ARD-FCT insists the measures fall far short of the scale of reforms needed to stabilize the system and restore public confidence in healthcare delivery.
Health experts have warned that Abuja’s challenges mirror those faced across the country, where poor funding, brain drain, and weak maintenance of facilities have combined to undermine the effectiveness of public health institutions.
They argue that if the FCT, with relatively better resources, is struggling to provide adequate care, then the situation in other states may be far more dire.
The doctors have given authorities time to respond but warned that failure to address their demands with concrete action plans may force them to consider industrial action once again — a move that could further disrupt healthcare services for residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
