Medical Doctors Shut Down Teaching Hospital In Oyo Over Poor Conditions Of Service

By Ayodele Oni

It turned out to be a disappointment and frustration for patients and relations on Monday as Doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, (LAUTTH) Ogbomoso, Oyo State began an industrial action.

The industrial action which is over poor conditions of service, was called by the hospital’s chapter of the Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) in a statement by its Chairman, Dr Ayobami Alabi and Secretary, Dr Taiwo Alatishe.

According to the statement, the decision was based on a congress resolution arrived at, at the expiration of an ultimatum earlier issued.

The chapter’s MDCAN declared that it has critically observed the situation in the hospital and there was no definite assurance that issues in contention would soon be resolved either partly or wholly.

The association stated that it has made efforts in the past to safeguard the hospital from total collapse and to reposition it for better training, research, and services for which it was established.

It declared as unacceptable the continued non-payment of salaries of its members recently employed, and the “delay and difficulty in payment of 2016 to 2017 salary arrears by the management.”

The association added that some of the other issues in contention were shortage of manpower across the different cadres of doctors, including consultants, specialists across different fields, resident doctors, specialists in training and house officers.

“The prescribed ratio of doctors expected to function in a tertiary hospital is already distorted and highly eroded by this shortfall undermining quality training and service.

“The persistent inability of hospital management to employ doctors and other staff hinged on the excuse of paucity of funds, has led to failure in expanding the scope of training and services.

“There is also decadence in infrastructure, equipment and facilities which is making the hospital to operate below the optimal standard expected of a teaching hospital.”

It listed the poor conditions of service to include lack of basic facilities like offices for consultants and non-response from management in spite of years of appeal.

“The withdrawal of service is done to safeguard the hospital from total collapse and to reposition it for better training, research, and services for which it was established.

“The board of the hospital failed to respond appropriately and satisfactorily to all these challenges over the years despite our various engagements, tolerance and show of understanding.

“This treatment is anti-labour. It is also considered inhumane with the attending psychological and emotional trauma.”

The association further noted that it was becoming impracticable for the hospital’s management to provide basic amenities for effective service delivery.

The MDCAN appealed to the public, traditional rulers, critical stakeholders and the state government to come to the rescue of the teaching hospital to reposition it for better output.