The NARD bans 24-hour calls headline is dominating social media after the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors announced that, effective October 1, 2025, its members will no longer take continuous calls beyond 24 hours. The move comes amid warnings that Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio, currently about 1:9,083, is dangerously far from global standards.

With over 16,000 doctors said to have left Nigeria in recent years, the burden on those who remain is crushing. NARD says its members often work over 106.5 hours per week, and surgical residents sometimes exceed 122.7 hours—practices which place both doctors and patients at grave risk.

“This situation is deeply troubling … it leads to increased medical errors due to burnout, endangering patient safety,” the association declared in its statement.

The directive is not just about rest—it is a call for survival. NARD demands a one-to-one replacement policy, better safeguards against overwork, and pay that matches the sacrifices made.

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Why This Matters Now

Healthcare in Nigeria has long teetered on the edge. The NARD announcement underscores how a system stretched too thin is now pushing back. When NARD bans 24-hour calls, it isn’t just a labor protest—it’s a survival measure for doctors and a plea for systemic reform in Nigeria’s primary and tertiary care.

The federal government has yet to officially respond to the directive. According to reports, many hospitals are already feeling the ripple effects: delays, staffing challenges, and increased pressure on emergency services.

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The Human & Systemic Toll

• Burnout & errors: Doctors under extreme fatigue are more likely to make mistakes.
• Patient harm: When the caregivers are compromised, patient outcomes suffer.
• Attrition: The ban may push more doctors abroad, accelerating brain drain.
• Healthcare access: Rural and public hospital patients are likely to feel the pinch first.

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What NARD Wants

• Enforce mandatory rest periods after calls
• Implement one-to-one replacement to ease workloads
• Regulate maximum weekly duty hours
• Improve remuneration, welfare, and work conditions
• Transparent oversight to protect doctor and patient welfare

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Looking Ahead

Calling this a watershed moment is not hyperbole. If the government does not respond decisively, the ban may trigger further strikes, deepen health system collapse, and erode public trust. But if handled well, this moment could drive lasting reform and respect for the medical profession.