Health
No fewer than 6,400 trainee doctors resign
No fewer than 6,400 trainee doctors resign
More than 6,400 trainee doctors have submitted their resignations in protest of the government’s plan to boost the number of medical students.
Officials said on Tuesday, as worries mount that their collective action could put public health at risk.
Second Vice Health Minister, Park Min-soo told reporters that the ministry had ordered 831 trainee doctors to return to work, with tensions between doctors and the government spiking over the plan to add 2,000 to the country’s medical school enrollment quota in 2025.
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As of Monday, 6,415 trainee doctors at 100 hospitals submitted their resignations, with about 1,600 of them walking off the job, Park said.
There are around 13,000 trainee doctors in South Korea.
With trainee doctors stopping work at some hospitals, some patients have already experienced delays in surgeries and other treatments. Still, no major disruption in medical services has yet occurred.
To cope with a potential disruption of medical services, the government will extend operating hours at 97 public hospitals and emergency rooms at 12 military hospitals will be opened to the public, Park said.
“We are deeply disappointed and concerned that the collective action by trainee doctors had led to a disruption in medical services, such as the cancellation of surgeries,” Park said.
“We cannot give justification to the actions of the doctors leaving their patients behind to protest a policy in spite of knowing what the collective action could result in,” Park added.
“The government will put in utmost efforts to operate an emergency medical system to minimize possible damage to the patients.”
The government says the increase in the admission quota is needed to address a shortage of doctors, particularly in rural areas and essential medical fields, such as high-risk surgeries, pediatrics, obstetrics and emergency medicine.
The number of doctors in South Korea relative to the size of the population is among the lowest in the developed world, according to health authorities.
However, doctors have claimed that the government has not had full consultations on the matter and that the move will compromise the quality of medical education and services.
Earlier, on Monday, the government took steps to suspend the medical licences of two officials of the Korea Medical Association, which represents doctors.
If the two officials turn out to be urging doctors to join the collective action, their licenses will be cancelled, according to government officials.
Concerns about a vacuum in medical services have already become a reality for some, as trainee doctors at Severance Hospital declared the suspension of their service on the day.
This action prompted the hospital to go into emergency mode and adjust the schedules of surgeries and procedures for patients.
At some major hospitals in Seoul, some patients whose surgeries were not urgent were forced to be discharged or transferred to other hospitals.
A caregiver of a cancer patient at Asan Medical Center told Yonhap News Agency, “Due to the strike, he was notified that he would be admitted to another general hospital nearby and to be admitted again next month (to Asan Medical Center).”
No fewer than 6,400 trainee doctors resign
Only 58,000 doctors renewed licence out of 130,000 registered doctors — MDCN
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) says only 58,000 doctors renewed their annual practice licence out of the 130,000 registered doctors in the country.
The Deputy Registrar of MDCN, Dr Victor Kolawole, disclosed this at the Induction/Oath Taking Ceremony of the 2022/2023 Batch B Medicine and Surgery graduates of the Edo State University, Uzairue, on Friday.
Kolawole said “since inception in 1963, we presently have over 130,000 registered doctors in Nigeria.
“However, as you know because of the increase in migration of doctors out of the country, we have about 58,000 doctors who renewed their annual practice licence in 2023 and they are those that are fit to practice in Nigeria.”
He frowned at the current sydrome of doctors going abroad for greener pasture and appealed to the newly medical graduates to stay back and practice their profession in the country.
He said that “by this induction of 20 new doctors into the health workforce, we hope that other institutions will follow suit even as the government said that the quota should be increased in all our training centres.
“However, the doctors must meet the requirements to earn those increase in quota.
“We will partner them to ensure that they met those requirements and as we try to ensure that, standard must be upheld.”
He dmonished the new medical practitioners to uphold the sanity of the profession and be law abiding, as the council is
mandated to regulate activities of practitioners as well as punish offenders.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, said the institution has facilities to train medical personnel in the country.
Aluyor thanked Gov. Godwin Obaseki “for his unwavering support to the great university and for establishing the university teaching hospital through the conversion of the Central Hospital, Auchi.
“This significant upgrade has enhanced facilities for the training of medical students and uplifted the standard of healthcare services in Edo North and its environs.
“It is noteworthy that Edo State University Teaching Hospital Auchi is the first state-owned teaching hospital in Edo.
“I respectfully urge the state government to sustain efforts toward improving facilities at Edo State University Teaching Hospital, Auchi.
Earlier, the acting Provost, College of Medical Sciences, Dr Kenneth Atoe, said 20 medical graduands from the college are the second Batch B inductees.
Atoe advised the newly qualified medical graduates to uphold the ethical standards of a medical professional.
“You must internalise the values of honesty, integrity and selflessness.
“These virtues are not only essential for building strong doctor-patient relationship, but, are also integral to upholding the ethical standards and trustworthiness expected of a medical professional.
“By embodying these values, doctors not only fulfil their professional obligations, but also contribute to the maintenance of public trust in the medical profession,”Atoe said.
Only 58,000 doctors renewed licence out of 130,000 registered doctors — MDCN
Actors Guild hails Tinubu on intervention for Nollywood Actor, Zack Orji’s health
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his fatherly intervention on the health of Nollywood Actor, Zack Orji, who had departed to the United Kingdom for post-surgery assessment.
Dr Emeka Rollas, National President of AGN, gave the commendation in a statement on Saturday.
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Rollas also commended the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for her motherly care towards the veteran actor as well as the son of the President, Seyi Tinubu, for his unflinching support.
“We have witnessed the unprecedented support that President Tinubu is giving to the creative industry.
“This has clearly shown his clear determination to uplift the sector to be more relevant and beneficial to both the practitioners and the national economy and we find it necessary to appreciate him.
“We also appreciate the Minister for Women Affair, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, for her relentless efforts in ensuring that Zack Orji gets back on his feet hale and hearty.
“Zack Orji equally extends his profound gratitude to his longtime friend, Ahmed Bala, for standing by him all through the period.
Actors Guild hails Tinubu on intervention for Nollywood Actor, Zack Orji’s health
Sleep deprivation affects over 700 genes in human body – Physician
Dr Moyosore Makinde, a Consultant Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, says
over 700 genes in the human body can be affected when an individual fails to sleep when due.
The consultant made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, in commemoration of
the 2024 World Sleep Day (WSD).
NAN reports that WSD is celebrated annually on March 15 to raise awareness about the significance of sleep and the ills of sleep deprivation.
The 2024 World Sleep Day has “Sleep Equity for Global Health” as its theme.
Markinde, also the President, Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLON), therefore, told NAN that sleep deprivation could have social, economic and health implications.
Also a member of the World Sleep Society, Markinde said that “sleep deprivation is usually caused by intentional human behaviour such as watching TV, viewing social media on phones, night shifts, night study, night travel and even night vigils.
“All these activities can disrupt the circadian rhythm, which is the body’s biological clock.
“Sleep helps to control the secretions from various body tissues and organs such as the growth hormone, the stress hormone and the hunger hormones.
“It also plays important roles in respiration, blood pressure and immunity.
“Sleep is so important that if an individual fails to observe when due, over 700 genes in the body can be affected.”
The physician said that sleep deprivation could also increase the risk of contracting some Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), adding that “it is the cause of a great number of accidents on Nigerian roads too.
“And aside causing fatal vehicular accidents and judgmental errors at work, sleep insufficiency or deprivation can increase the risk of heart disease,
type 2 diabetes and some cancers, especially breast and prostate cancers.
“Some people also have certain sleep disorders which can affect their ability to sleep and they will need to be evaluated by a sleep physician.”
Markinde explained that the normal duration expected of an individual to sleep varies, based on the age of the individual.
She said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended at least seven to eight hours of restorative sleep for adults above 18 years,
adding that infants and children require more hours of sleep compared to adults.
She, therefore, advised that people should make out time for sleep, rest and relax for optimal health.
“Infants require up to 16 hours of sleep, while pre-school and schoolage children need up to 13 hours and 12 hours of sleep respectively.
This is important for the development of their brains.
“Sleep is as important as the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breath.
“It is a natural state of rest and a period dedicated to help the body repair itself physiologically and naturally.
“Amid the hustle and bustle of work, study, business and pleasure-seeking activities, Nigerians need to prioritise sleep. In so doing, we will be prioritising our health,” Markinde said.
Sleep deprivation affects over 700 genes in human body – Physician
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