Lagos — Minister of Health, Babatunde Osotimehin, has described the current strike by the medical and health workers in federal health institutions as "unfortunate", saying their demands are beyond what the ministry could handle single handedly.

A statement by the minister's Special Assistant on Communications, Niyi Ojuolape, on Wednesday said "the issue is a service wide issue which is being addressed by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

"In this regard, it is beyond the Federal Ministry of Health because it affects all Federal Government employees".

The minister also noted that "given the sensitivity of the issue of health care to our population and citizenry and the negative consequences that would result there from, one would expect that this will be the last option that the workers would consider".

He expressed concern that lives are being lost as a result of the strike "as the hospitals are left with no choice than to discharge patients, even as new patients are not being attended to.

"Inevitably, this will affect all and sundry, including the relatives of the striking workers themselves" Osotimehin observed.

He said since the issues raised by the workers equally affect all federal public servants and not just health workers alone, the union would have been the last to take the latest action.

He appealed to the striking workers to return to work as their demands are already being addressed by the SGF.