A silent but worsening crisis is gripping the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as hospitals in Abuja remain without newly employed house officers for over seven months, leading to mounting medical negligence, patient complaints, and a looming protest by frustrated young doctors.
At major public health institutions across the city — including the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi and several district hospitals — patients and citizens are expressing deep concern over the collapse in timely medical attention and the increasing inefficiency of hospital services. Health workers on the ground confirm that the absence of house officers, who serve as the backbone of day-to-day clinical care in teaching and specialist hospitals, has significantly strained the system.
“This is not just an employment delay. It is a crisis that has directly led to patient neglect, missed diagnoses, and overall poor care. We are being overwhelmed,” said a senior nurse at FMC Abuja, who requested anonymity.
Sources within FMC and other hospitals report that the remaining medical staff are overburdened, with consultants and medical officers performing tasks typically handled by house officers — from taking patient histories to executing routine procedures and paperwork. The staff say the workload is unsustainable.The root of the problem appears to lie with the Health Management Board (HMB) under the supervision of the FCT Minister. Despite multiple appeals, applications, and inquiries from medical graduates awaiting posting, no new batch of house officers has been employed in the FCT hospitals since late 2024.
Efforts to reach the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for clarification have been unsuccessful, further frustrating young doctors and hospital administrators alike.In response to the silence and perceived inaction, a growing number of medical graduates and young doctors are organizing what may become a protest at the MDCN headquarters in Abuja in the coming days. One of the coordinators, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, stated: “We are tired of waiting. This is our future, and it’s also about the lives of Nigerians who are being failed every day.”
Staff at FMC Abuja and the asokoro and maitama district hospitals meanwhile, have publicly decried the situation. “We need immediate government intervention. This is not just about salaries or politics. It’s about human lives,” said a medical officer.As Abuja finds itself increasingly short of frontline doctors, especially house officers who form the first clinical contact for patients in many hospitals, there are fears that the region’s healthcare system may face a total breakdown unless urgent steps are taken.
Efforts to reach the FCT Minister and the HMB for official statements were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
https://thenigerianpost.com.ng/patients-suffer-abuja-hospitals-cry-out-over-lack-of-house-officers/
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