LAUTECH doctors begin industrial action over unpaid salaries

The Medical and Dental Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) chapter of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has started an industrial action over unpaid salaries and the poor conditions of service.

The association’s Chairman, Dr Ayobami Alabi and Secretary, Dr Taiwo Alatishe announced the decision based on a congress resolution arrived at when an earlier ultimatum expired.

The MDCAN had observed the hospital’s situation and noted that there was no definitive assurance that the issues in contention would soon be resolved. The doctors have pointed out several grievances, including the non-payment of salaries of recently employed members, difficulty in payment of salary arrears, a shortage of doctors across different cadres, and a decline in infrastructure and facilities.

The withdrawal of service is aimed at safeguarding the hospital from total collapse and repositioning it for better training, research and services.

The MDCAN stated that it had made efforts in the past to ensure the hospital did not collapse, and it was established for better training, research, and services. It declared the delay in payment of salaries and the lack of basic facilities like offices for consultants as unacceptable. It also criticised the hospital’s management for not expanding the scope of training and services by failing to employ doctors and other staff.

“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 the paucity of funds, has led to failure in expanding the scope of training and services,’’ it stated.

The MDCAN has appealed to the public, traditional rulers, critical stakeholders, and the state government to intervene and rescue the teaching hospital to improve its output.