The Federal Government has introduced new policy frameworks to regulate the working hours of health workers and the engagement of locum staff in federal health institutions across Nigeria.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said the policies were developed to address concerns raised by health sector unions over prolonged working hours, burnout and what it described as irregular and exploitative practices in the engagement of locum workers.
The ministry disclosed this in a circular signed by the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Abisola Adegoke, on behalf of the Minister of State for Health.
According to the ministry, the two policy documents are the Policy on Work Hour Regulation for Health Workers in Health Institutions in Nigeria and the Policy on Locum Engagement in Health Institutions in Nigeria.
The ministry said the policies followed the work of a committee inaugurated by the Minister of State for Health to develop frameworks addressing longstanding concerns over working conditions and locum engagement in the health sector.
The committee comprised representatives of health sector unions, Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal tertiary health institutions, the Federal Ministry of Health and the ministry’s Labour Desk Officer.
The ministry also said the policies were necessitated by the “debilitating effects of prolonged working hours,” including burnout, depersonalisation and risks to patient safety.
It added that the new framework on work hours would regulate the duration of work and prescribe mandatory rest periods for health workers to reduce overwork and burnout.
Meanwhile, the policy on locum engagement, is aimed at streamlining the process, eliminating casualisation and ensuring compliance with Nigeria’s Labour Laws, Public Service Rules and Schemes of Service.
The ministry said the policies are also expected to improve patient safety and healthcare delivery while promoting workforce stability and helping to retain skilled health professionals.
The ministry further directed Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of federal health institutions to ensure the adoption and implementation of the policies in line with the national framework.
It also stressed that the success of the new policies would depend largely on the commitment and cooperation of the heads of the affected institutions.
“Your leadership in this regard is indispensable,” the ministry said, while appreciating members of the committee for their contributions to the development of the policy documents.
