The Zamfara State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has given the Zamfara state Government a one-week deadline to address the issue of unpaid salaries for 18 medical doctors.

These doctors have not received their salaries for four months, starting from April of this year. The NMA's directive came through a statement signed by Dr. Sanusi Bello, the state Chairman of NMA, and Dr. Murtala Mohammed S, the Secretary.

This communication was issued at the conclusion of an Extended Executive Council meeting held on Sunday at the Association's Secretariat in Gusau. The council also demanded the immediate payment of July 2023 salaries for all medical doctors in the hospital, as well as the payment of eight months' allowances to visiting consultants and professors.

Additionally, the council urged the prompt payment of pending salaries to eight medical doctors and the release of 15 months' worth of third-party deductions to ARD ASYBSH and NMA Zamfara.

The NMA emphasized the need for the swift recruitment of more personnel across all levels to ensure continuous healthcare services in Zamfara State and to counteract the loss of medical professionals from the region.

The NMA conveyed its intention to grant the Zamfara State Government a one-week grace period to address these concerns. In the event of the government's failure to do so, the NMA threatened to commence a complete and indefinite strike starting on Monday, September 4, 2023.

This strike would lead to the complete shutdown of all hospitals, including federal and state institutions, as well as private healthcare facilities. Furthermore, all medical and dental services provided by medical doctors in Zamfara State would be withdrawn.

The NMA justified this course of action due to the government's lack of effective resolution regarding the matter at hand, as stated in the statement.