The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has suspended its planned nationwide strike following what it described as significant progress in negotiations with the Federal Government.
The decision was reached during an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC) held on Saturday. According to NARD, the suspension followed high-level engagements and interventions that yielded assurances on several long-standing demands bordering on welfare, remuneration and working conditions of resident doctors.
NARD explained that the strike, earlier scheduled to commence on January 12, was put on hold to allow the government more time to consolidate on commitments already made. The association noted that discussions with relevant authorities were productive and reflected renewed seriousness toward resolving the issues at stake.
However, the doctors emphasised that the suspension is conditional, warning that failure by the government to fully implement agreed resolutions could trigger a resumption of industrial action. NARD said it would reconvene another meeting later in the month to assess the level of compliance and decide on its next line of action.
The planned strike had raised concerns across the country over potential disruptions to healthcare services, particularly in public hospitals. With the suspension, medical services are expected to continue uninterrupted for now, while negotiations remain ongoing.
NARD reaffirmed its commitment to constructive dialogue but maintained that it would not hesitate to take decisive action should the welfare of its members continue to be neglected.