Poor Service Condition:  Resident Doctors In Ondo Medical University Begin Indefinite Strike

By Ayodele Oni

Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo, will welcome the new year with an indefinite strike over poor condition of service.

Members of the association had on Monday protested following refusal of the management of the hospital to heed to their demands.

They demanded a stop to illegal deductions from their salaries, stop huge payment of taxes, non-payment of hazard allowance amongst others.

Branch President of ARD, Dr Olaogbe Kehinde, said the workload was too much for doctors in the hospital which has forced some of the doctors to resign, while others left without prior notification due to poor conditions of service.

Dr. Olaogbe pointed out that despite pleadings that the hospital management should review of their working conditions, nothing has changed.

Olaogbe stated that the strike action  was a difficult decision to take, but due to failure to address critical issues affecting its members, decayed infrastructure, and non delivery of quality healthcare services, members have not option.

According to him, doctors could no longer work under conditions that undermine their well-being and compromise patient care.

He urged the state government to expedite action on payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances, improve working conditions in the three centres across the state, and ensure prompt implementation of their demands.

“We demand the correction of irregularities and discrepancies in salary payments, the implementation of the new minimum wage scale, and parity in salary payments with other tertiary hospitals as stipulated in the teaching hospital constitution, among other issues.

“We deeply regret any inconvenience this strike may cause to patients and the public.”

Immediate past President of the union, Dr. John Matthew, revealed that the disparity between the salary of doctors in Ondo State and other states is huge due to illegal deductions and taxes.

He said many doctors in the state have left to take up appointments in other states.

“We will not return to work until our demands are met. Money is the core issue because that is what is driving doctors away.

“There is a huge disparity in payment between Ondo and Ogun States. Doctors will go to states which are giving doctors good welfare packages but the conditions are terrible welfare here.

“The issues are Illegal deductions from our salary and the humugous taxes we are paying. It is killing the system and driving doctors away.

“The hospital was disconnected from the national grid and we were sleeping and working in the dark.”

Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Gbala Micheal, pleaded with the striking  doctors for more time to enable management address their grievances.