OWO, Ondo State — Resident doctors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, Ondo State, took to the streets on Monday to protest recurring assaults by patients’ relatives, demanding justice, improved security, and an immediate end to violence against healthcare workers in the facility.
The protest, which temporarily disrupted activities at the hospital, saw doctors wearing white coats and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop Killing Your Lifesavers,” “Healthcare is Not a Contact Sport,” and “We Demand Safety to Save Lives.” The doctors withdrew from emergency and elective services for several hours to press home their demands.
The leadership of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), FMC Owo chapter, presented a list of grievances to the hospital management. They cited multiple incidents where doctors and other health workers were physically assaulted, verbally abused, or threatened by relatives of patients who were dissatisfied with treatment outcomes or waiting times.
According to the association, the most recent incident occurred last week when a doctor on night duty was attacked by a patient’s relative who accused medical staff of negligence. The doctor sustained injuries to his face and arms before security personnel intervened. The attacker reportedly fled and has not been apprehended.
Dr. Adewale Ogunleye, the NARD chairman at FMC Owo, addressed journalists during the protest. He stated that the recurring violence has created a climate of fear among doctors, many of whom now dread reporting for night shifts or attending to emergency cases. He noted that several young doctors have expressed interest in leaving the hospital or relocating abroad due to safety concerns.
The NARD chairman further disclosed that the association had previously submitted multiple memoranda to hospital management, the Ondo State Government, and the Federal Ministry of Health, yet no concrete action had been taken to protect health workers. He warned that doctors would be left with no choice but to embark on a full-scale industrial action if their demands were not met urgently.
The doctors are demanding the immediate prosecution of all individuals who have assaulted medical staff, the deployment of adequate security personnel across all units of the hospital, the installation of CCTV cameras in high-risk areas, and the creation of a safe passage for doctors to exit the hospital after night shifts.
They also called on the federal government to expedite the passage of the National Health Workforce Compact Bill, which includes provisions for the protection of health workers and criminal penalties for those who assault medical personnel. Similar legislation has been enacted in several countries, including India and Kenya, following widespread protests by doctors.
The hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Olufemi Adewole, issued a statement acknowledging the grievances of the resident doctors. He assured them that management would investigate the recent assault and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice. He also promised to engage with security agencies to improve safety protocols within the hospital premises.
The Ondo State Government, through the Ministry of Health, expressed solidarity with the protesting doctors. Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, condemned the attacks and pledged that the state would work with hospital authorities to enhance security. He also appealed to patients and their relatives to exercise patience and resolve disputes through established channels rather than resorting to violence.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ondo State chapter, issued a statement in support of the resident doctors, describing the assaults as an unacceptable trend that undermines the healthcare system. The NMA called on the Inspector General of Police to deploy specialized units to protect medical facilities across the country, particularly in high-risk areas.
Civil society organisations focused on healthcare governance have also weighed in, urging the National Assembly to prioritise the passage of the health workforce protection bill. They noted that without a safe working environment, Nigeria’s already fragile healthcare system would continue to lose skilled professionals to emigration or attrition.
As the protest ended, the resident doctors returned to their duties after receiving assurances from management. However, they warned that the reprieve was temporary and that further violence would trigger an indefinite strike. For now, FMC Owo remains on edge, and the message from the doctors is clear: enough is enough.
