Medical services at government-owned hospitals in Kwara State have been severely disrupted following a seven-day warning strike by doctors over unresolved welfare concerns and deductions from their salaries for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme (KHIS).
The strike has forced hospital managements to refer patients requiring urgent medical attention to other facilities, while some stable patients have been discharged to continue their medication at home.
At the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), Ilorin, nurses were seen providing skeletal services when our reporter visited the facility over the weekend.
The hospital appeared largely deserted, with only a few patients seen accessing medical care.
The Health Records Department, usually crowded with patients seeking medical attention, was also virtually empty.
Relatives of patients receiving treatment at the hospital appealed to the relevant authorities to intervene and resolve the dispute, warning that prolonged industrial action could further affect access to healthcare.
KWASUTH Management Speaks on Doctors’ Strike
Speaking on the situation, the Chief Medical Director of KWASUTH, Dr Ahmed AbdulQuadri, said the hospital management had introduced measures to minimise the impact of the strike on patients.
AbdulQuadri said the management was handling the situation with compassion while appealing to the striking doctors and relevant authorities to find common ground.
“We have ensured that patients who were admitted and need nursing care are getting it because nurses are not on strike,” he said.
He explained that patients requiring acute medical care were being referred to other hospitals, while those whose conditions had stabilised and needed only nursing care were discharged to continue their medication at home.
The management’s response comes amid concerns over the potential consequences of the industrial action for patients who depend on government-owned hospitals for affordable healthcare.
Why Kwara Doctors Are on Strike
The doctors, who are employed by the Kwara State Government, commenced a seven-day warning strike on Thursday following unresolved welfare concerns.
The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Kwara State chapter, said the decision was reached at its congress on October 14, 2026, after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the state government.
The association’s chairman, Dr Adeola Olasinde, said the doctors were protesting unresolved welfare issues, including deductions from their salaries for the Kwara Health Insurance Scheme.
The strike has raised fresh concerns about healthcare delivery in the state, with patients and their relatives hoping that the government and the doctors will reach an agreement before the warning strike ends.
