The Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT), has commenced a seven-day warning strike, protesting what it described as long-standing systemic failures within the territory’s healthcare system.
The industrial action was announced on Monday in a communiqué signed by the association’s president, Dr. George Ebong, and other members of the executive.
According to Ebong, doctors in the FCT are overstretched and under-resourced, often forced to cover multiple departments simultaneously due to severe manpower shortages.
“The health system in the FCT is on the brink of collapse. Without urgent and comprehensive reforms, the situation will continue to deteriorate”, Ebong warned.
The ARD-FCT is demanding improved working conditions, adequate staffing, and better funding for healthcare facilities.
What Happens Next?
The association said the warning strike will last seven days but hinted at the possibility of an indefinite industrial action if their demands are ignored.
Patients in the FCT are advised to seek alternative healthcare options during the strike period, as hospital services, particularly at government-owned facilities, are expected to be significantly disrupted.
The FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat has yet to issue an official response, but insiders suggest an emergency meeting with union leaders may be convened to avert a prolonged shutdown of healthcare services.
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