The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has urged the Federal Government to curb the financial leakages in federal teaching hospitals by enrolling doctors on the Integrated Personnel Payroll System before October 30.

The Doctors on Friday vowed to resist pay cut arising from improper grading and placement of doctors currently affecting many hospitals in the country.

Dr. Ugoeze Asinobi, Public Relations Officer of the Association said in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, that the association took the resolution among others at an Extra-Ordinary National Executive Meeting in Abuja on Sunday.

According to him, the officials at various federal teaching hospitals deliberately manipulate the grading and step system to short-pay doctors and pocket the cumulative difference running into millions of naira.

Asinobi said that the inappropriate placement of doctors, the approved lateral conversion on grades and scale was adversely affecting doctors in 12 federal hospitals across the country.

He noted with dismay that the development had compelled doctors in affected hospitals to down tools, thereby obstructing industrial harmony, worsening health indices and needless loss of lives.

He therefore advised the Federal Government to ensure that full remuneration of doctors were captured in the 2017 budget to forestall breach of industrial harmony in the health sector in the coming year.

“Any attempt to truncate full emolument of our members will be stoutly resisted and will lead to immediate and total nationwide breakdown of cordial industrial relations.

“The Chief Executives of the 12 affected hospitals where the pay cuts occasioned by the inappropriate placement of doctors should immediately be called to order to avoid worsening the soured industrial relations.

“All institutions currently on strike as a result of non implementation of full salaries with lateral conversion have the full backing of NARD and are encouraged to be steadfast.

“They should activate all mechanisms within the ambit of the law to press home their agitations and ensure that their demands are met,” Asinobi said.

He further said that NARD faulted the invocation of ‘no work no pay rule’ and rejects it entirely as its members were punished for the ineptitude of the Chief Executives of the affected hospitals and health ministry officials.

•Photo shows Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole.

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