In a bold move to safeguard doctors’ health and patient safety, the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) under President Dr. Mohammed Suleiman has announced that, effective October 1, 2025, resident doctors across Nigeria will no longer be required to take continuous calls beyond 24 hours.
Why the Change?
Dr. Suleiman labeled the previous arrangements “slave-like,” arguing that excessive calls contribute to burnout, medical errors, and even premature deaths.
He highlighted that in some hospitals, a single doctor might be assigned 31 on-calls in a month.
Recent tragedies have given the issue renewed urgency. The death of a young doctor who reportedly died after three consecutive days of on-call duty was cited by NARD as a tragic indicator of what can happen when limits are ignored.
How NARD Intends to Enforce It
To make sure the directive is respected, NARD plans to use Chief Residents and Centre Presidents at the 91 medical centres across Nigeria to monitor compliance. These local leaders will report status back to the NARD National Secretariat, ensuring accountability and feedback on the ground.
Thus far, the Federal Ministry of Health has not publicly responded to the directive.
photo credit @AriseTv
