The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has officially directed its members to stop working beyond 24 consecutive hours of call duty starting October 1, 2025. The association’s president, Dr. Mohammad Suleiman, announced the new directive during an interview. Emphasizing that the measure is designed to safeguard doctors’ health and improve patient safety.
According to Suleiman, Nigerian resident doctors have long endured marathon call hours. It not only endanger their well-being but also compromise the quality of healthcare delivery. He stressed that prolonged shifts increase the risk of medical errors, fatigue, and even fatalities.
“From today, no member will exceed 24 hours of continuous call duty. After such a shift, doctors must rest before returning to work. Back-to-back marathon calls are unsafe and unsustainable,” Suleiman declared.
The NARD president urged doctors to reject rosters that schedule consecutive 24-hour calls. He explained that a doctor may only take a single 24-hour call shift before being allowed adequate rest. Anything beyond that, he warned, puts both healthcare providers and patients at risk.
Suleiman also called on the Federal Ministry of Health to establish clear national guidelines on safe call rosters, noting that repeated appeals on the issue have gone unheeded.
Citing a tragic case in Rivers State, he recalled a young doctor who died after working three consecutive days on call. While the exact cause of death remains uncertain, Suleiman maintained that extreme fatigue and overwork were contributing factors.
Beyond call duty, doctors still manage routine clinical responsibilities such as ward rounds, patient care, and outpatient services. Suleiman clarified that the directive does not mean doctors will abandon call duty, but rather that they will not exceed the 24-hour limit necessary for recovery and safe practice.
