The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) branch, has embarked on a 21-day warning strike in Awka, Anambra State, following the state government’s failure to implement the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for consultants.
The action, which began on Monday, comes after the government’s recent approval of the same salary adjustment for resident doctors.
Addressing journalists in Awka, the Chairman of MDCAN-COOUTH, Dr. Amaechi Nwachukwu, said the decision was taken after repeated assurances from the hospital management yielded no results. He warned that if the salary adjustment was not implemented within the three-week ultimatum, consultants would embark on an indefinite strike.
Dr. Nwachukwu explained that the association had engaged the hospital management, which had promised to resolve the issue. However, he expressed disappointment that the October salary — due soon — still did not reflect the adjustment.
He noted that, by established practice, any salary or allowance increase granted to resident doctors should automatically extend to their supervising consultants.
“The current situation is unfair,” he said. “Consultants will have no choice but to suspend research activities, discharge patients, and halt clinical demonstrations for medical students if the government fails to act within the given period.”
The MDCAN chairman, however, commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for approving the Medical Residency Training Fund for resident doctors and for his continued investment in the state’s health sector. He urged the governor to show the same commitment by resolving the consultants’ salary disparity to prevent further disruption of healthcare services.
