Resident Doctors Announce End to Continuous 24-Hour Calls Over Poor Working Conditions
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised alarm over the country’s dire doctor-to-patient ratio, describing the current situation as unsustainable and dangerous to both doctors and patients.
In a statement issued on Wednesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, the body declared that, effective October 1, 2025, resident doctors nationwide will no longer be subjected to continuous duty beyond 24 hours.
The declaration was jointly signed by NARD President, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman; Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim; and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Ibrahim.
Nigeria, with a population estimated at over 240 million, is currently served by just about 11,000 resident doctors. This puts the doctor-to-patient ratio at 1:9,083—far below the global standard.
The situation has been worsened by the mass migration of health professionals. According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, more than 16,000 doctors have relocated abroad within the last seven years in search of better opportunities.
Resident doctors, who form the core of Nigeria’s teaching hospitals, are left with overwhelming workloads. NARD noted that its members put in an average of 106.5 hours each week, with surgical trainees working even longer—up to 122.7 hours weekly.
“This has grave implications for both patients and doctors,” the association warned. “The mental, physical, and psychological toll on young doctors often results in burnout, higher chances of errors, and, in some cases, the loss of lives.”
The association lamented that early-career doctors frequently pay the “ultimate price,” leaving behind grieving families and dependents without adequate support.
To safeguard health workers and improve patient care, NARD announced a new directive restricting continuous calls to 24 hours, with mandatory rest periods afterward.
“This decision is anchored on the principle of self-preservation,” the association said, adding that it aligns with the ethical duty of doctors under the Hippocratic Oath.
NARD also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to adopt a one-to-one replacement policy for doctors who resign or migrate, in order to ease the strain on those still in service. It further called for the introduction of strict regulations on call hours to prevent excessive workloads.
The association stressed that unless urgent reforms are implemented, the country risks deepening its health sector crisis, with more professionals likely to leave for better conditions abroad.
