The Federal Government on Friday expressed optimism that the ongoing strike action by the Nigerian Medical Association would be called of on Monday (next week) at the end of the association’s Emergency Delegates Meeting.

“I also want to remind all health workers that the ethics of their professions dictates that at all times emergency care must not be denied to those that need them. I thank you all,” the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, stated during a press briefing in Abuja to convey government’s update on the strike.

While describing the strike as “unnecessary,” he said “almost all the issues in contention were either issues that had been satisfactorily resolved or issues that could be treated merely through administrative mechanism.”

Chukwu said he had expected the NMA to respond and attend to all emergency cases in public hospitals “in the spirit of this understanding.”