Members of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State have resumed their indefinite strike.
The resident doctors had on June 27 2016 suspended their three week old strike as a result of the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
Addressing journalists at the hospital, the branch President of the Association, Dr. Ahmed Olanipekun, stated that they decided to embark on strike again due to the refusal of the management of the hospital to attend to their demands.
Dr Olanipekun said the demands include the regularisation of the employment of 22 casualised medical officers, replacement of casual officers with qualified resident doctors and the new clause in the appointment of house officers expunged.
Other demands include full payment of salary arrears of resident doctors and consultants from January, 2016, as well as the payment of all arrears of examination fees and upgrading fees.
Responding on behalf of the management of the hospital, the Acting Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Kunle Adesokan, said the corps members are employed based on the requirements of the hospital.
He added that the examination and other fees have been paid to doctors that applied last year and the payment for those who applied earlier are still being processed.
He equally appealed to the doctors to be patient as the fees is their entitlement, which cannot be denied them if available.