Medical Graduates'Now Surviving on Loans': House Officers Denied August Pay Amidst Silence from Health Authorities

Medical graduates currently undergoing their 12-month housemanship training across Nigeria have been denied their August salaries and, despite requesting their salary every day in September, the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) have remained silent.

The Press understands this is not the first time house officers have had to beg or protest online for their salaries. While consultants and registrars received their August salaries, house officers were excluded. The last time the MDCN paid them was August 8 for their services in July.

A house officer, who spoke to The Press on the condition of anonymity, said that some of them were starving, with others surviving on loans as they waited on the delayed salaries.

"We haven't been paid for August, and it's almost two weeks into the new month. We've been silent, but nothing has been done. People are starving, plans are on hold, and many can't feed comfortably, resorting to borrowing money to get by. I'm not trying to drag anyone; we've worked and deserve our pay,ÔÇØ the officer told The Press on Tuesday.

In the past four days, several doctors and house officers have taken to X to express their dissatisfaction with Fatima Kyari, the MDCN registrar, for failing to ensure timely payment of house officers' salaries alongside those of other doctors.

The Press called the MDCN via a number on its website but no representative answered. An email sent to MDCN had not been responded to at press time.

The FMoH has also refused to address the house officers.

FIJ