FCT Doctors Overworked And Struggling, ARD Raises Alarm Over Mental Health Crisis.
The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) has issued a stark warning about the dire working conditions faced by doctors, with many so overworked that some are relying on antidepressants to cope. The concerns were raised by ARD-FCT President Dr George Ebong during the association’s third-quarter ordinary general meeting on Thursday, 28 August 2025, in Abuja, where he described the territory’s healthcare system as suffering from “long-standing systemic failure.”
Dr Ebong highlighted severe manpower shortages, non-functional equipment, poor working conditions, and unpaid staff allowances as critical issues pushing doctors to breaking point. “Our hospitals are not even 20th-century compliant,” he stated, pointing to X-ray machines that have been out of service for years and a lack of consumables forcing dialysis patients to be turned away. He noted that doctors are frequently required to cover multiple departments simultaneously, leading to extreme mental and physical exhaustion. “This overload has driven some colleagues to rely on antidepressants just to stay functional,” Ebong revealed, underscoring the toll on their mental health.
The ARD-FCT issued a one-week ultimatum to the FCT administration, demanding immediate reforms in staffing and welfare or face a one-week warning strike. Ebong stressed that the lack of recruitment since 2011, coupled with losses due to retirements, deaths, and emigration, has left some hospitals with a single doctor handling up to 60 patients overnight. “This is neither safe for patients nor sustainable for healthcare workers,” he warned, urging prioritisation of workforce development and timely payment of salaries and promotions.
In response, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, assured the association that the FCT minister’s administration is committed to improving healthcare delivery. She announced that appointment letters for 60 house officers, 70 pharmacists, and 60 laboratory scientists would soon be issued, with outstanding allowances and improvements in health insurance and drug supply also in progress. “We are working to address these challenges and strengthen the system,” Fasawe said.
The ARD-FCT’s revelations have sparked renewed calls for urgent government intervention to prevent a collapse of the capital’s healthcare system. The association’s threat of industrial action underscores the gravity of the crisis, with hopes that promised reforms will alleviate the immense pressure on doctors and improve patient care across the FCT.