The lingering dispute between the members of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, and the Chief Medical Director of t‎he Hospital, Dr. Chuku Abali took another dimension Wednesday as the doctors have threatened to initiate contempt proceedings him.

This followed alleged plan by the embattled CMD to ‎replace the striking doctors, contrary to order of court that both parties should maintain the status quo.

It could be re-called that the doctors had dragged Abali to the National Industrial Court sitting in Enugu, in suit NoNICN/EN/15/2017, leading to an order of court against any attempt to sack them or withhold their salary pending the determination of the suit.

However, one of the workers, who spoke to journalists in Enugu under anonymity, for fear of victimization, alleged that the hospital authority was already secretly replacing the resident doctors with locum medical officers and house officers.

According to him, “the Chief Medical Director has concluded plans to hire more than thirty (30) locum medical officers and house officers to replace the us because we are on strike.

“This is despite the fact that we are in court against him before the National Industrial Court, Enugu Division on issue of threats to withdraw, sack or replace some of us in the Hospital.

“We commenced this industrial action on the 2nd March, 2017 to press for unconditional reinstatement of our President, Dr. Orji Emeka Innocent who was unlawfully suspended indefinitely without pay by the Medical Director.

“The Resident doctors decided to toe this unfortunate line of action after all attempts to make the Medical Director reason with us failed.”

He further alleged that “instead of finding an amicable solution to the present impasse, the medical director has gone ahead to engage the services of locum doctors and house officers to replace the striking Resident doctors, thereby denying the good people of Abia State and its environs their right to quality and specialized health care.”

He vowed that “should he go ahead with such illegal plot, we shall not hesitate to institute contempt proceedings against him and he knows the implications.”

When contacted, the lawyer to the Resident doctors’ Association, Ike Maximus Ugwuoke Esq, said “the issue of replacing the resident doctors of FMC Umuahia and even their remunerations is covered in the subsisting court action against the Medical Director and the Hospital Management in suit no NICN/EN/15/2017.

“If the Medical Director toes such step, it will be in absolute and flagrant disregard to the subsisting court order that parties should keep the peace and not disturb the res of the suit pending the determination of motion on notice.

“I don’t see the medical Director doing this, his lawyers I believe would guide him appropriately”.

Feelers indicate that the South-East zone of the Association and the national body may soon join the striking doctors of FMC Umuahia to press home their demands.

‎Efforts made to obtain reactions from Dr. Abali proved abortive as he did not answer calls put across to him. Text message sent to him has not been responded to as of the time of filling this report.

http://dailypost.ng/2017/04/06/contempt-court-striking-resident-doctors-threaten-jail-cmd-fmc-umuahia/