The plight of House Officers at Specialist Hospital Gombe

Medical graduates in Nigeria are required to undergo a one-year mandatory housemanship to further acquaint themselves with the practical knowledge in the medical profession before undertaking their national youth service. During this period, house officers working under federal government-owned institutions are paid salaries through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN); while those working with state-owned licensed institutions for their house job are paid by the state government. 

Following our induction as medical doctors (about 22 of us, all from Gombe State University and posted to Specialist Hospital Gombe) in July 2021, the Gombe State government through the Commissioner for Health announced that the state had integrated us into the state civil service and we would be on doctors’ salary scale. This development was appreciated and lauded by all of us. Alas! That merely became a pipe dream, as months dragged by without receiving a dime as salary. 

Five months after employment and into the internship programme, what we receive is still the medical students’ allowance of N33,000. As most of us are married – and some with children; the allowance doesn’t sustain us for two weeks, especially taking into cognisance the soaring prices of food and other items in the country.

With the rising cost of living in the country, expectations from family and friends who, by virtue of our being house officers, which create the impression that we are better off, we are really being hit hard by the non-payment of our salary. As professionals who provide healthcare services to people, the condition of service of doctors should always be that which meets their expectation. Serving and saving humanity is never easy; it is a daunting task.

While we sincerely recognise and appreciate the effort of the state government, especially by providing us with befitting accommodation to stay during our housemanship, we appeal to the government to come to our aid by paying our salaries. Paying our salaries will not only help us settle our debts, but will go a long way in stabilising us as we would no longer go to work thinking about the next meal or trying to suppress a hunger-induced yawn.

Being the pioneer house officers at the Specialist Hospital, the kind of treatment we receive from the government is what will encourage or discourage others from doing their house job in the state.

We honestly deserve better treatment, please!

Reedwan Muhammad can be reached through [email protected]