LAUTECH resident doctors’ strike hits 32 days

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Credit: LAUTECH Teaching Hospital.

Resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have entered the 32nd day of their industrial action over welfare-related issues.

The Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said its demands included the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, payment of outstanding Medical Residency Training Fund and settlement of six months of Minimum Wage arrears.

In a statement jointly signed by the association’s President, Dr Mustapha Adedapo A., and Secretary, Dr John Stephen, on Tuesday, the doctors said the industrial action followed the expiration of an eight-week ultimatum.

“The ongoing industrial action represents the resumption of an earlier suspended warning strike, following the expiration of an eight-week ultimatum issued to address the longstanding welfare crisis confronting resident doctors in LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso,” the association said.

The doctors also acknowledged steps taken towards addressing some of their concerns, including efforts to establish the legal framework for the Medical Residency Training Act and the part payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund.

“We recognise these steps as important developments and remain hopeful that the outstanding components will be addressed expeditiously,” the association said.

The association said the Professional Allowance Table remained one of the issues requiring attention, adding that welfare conditions could influence the retention and movement of medical personnel.

“Oyo State, despite its long-standing reputation as the Pace Setter State, remains the only state in the South-West yet to implement the Professional Allowance Table,” the doctors stated.

The association said LAUTECH Teaching Hospital provides specialised services in orthopaedics, urology, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, while serving as a referral centre for patients within and outside the state.

It said maintaining adequate skilled manpower was important to the hospital’s provision of specialised healthcare and residency training.

“The continued loss of skilled manpower poses a significant threat to the sustainability of residency training and the ability of the hospital to provide the specialised healthcare services for which it was established,” the association said.

The doctors called for the implementation of the Professional Allowance Table, full payment of the Medical Residency Training Fund and settlement of the outstanding six-month Minimum Wage arrears.

The association said addressing the issues would support the retention of resident doctors and help create an environment capable of attracting specialist manpower.

“We therefore call on the Oyo State Government to take decisive steps to salvage this fortress of hope for thousands of citizens from further deterioration and loss of skilled manpower by implementing welfare packages that are competitive with what is obtainable in neighbouring states,” the doctors said.

“Ultimately, these measures will strengthen the capacity of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital to provide quality tertiary healthcare to the people of Oyo State and beyond,” the association added.

The doctors also urged the state government to use its reputation as the Pace Setter State to promote higher standards in healthcare and medical training.

“As the Pace Setter State, we believe in the ability of the Oyo State Government to do more than merely implement what is obtainable elsewhere, but to lead, as Oyo State has historically done, by setting standards that others can follow,” the association said.

The resident doctors expressed optimism about resolving the industrial action through engagement with the government and other stakeholders.

“We remain optimistic that His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, with the goodwill and confidence that his administration enjoys, can bring about the necessary intervention to restore the strength, stability and agility of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso,” the association said.

The association said it remained committed to dialogue and constructive engagement with the government and other stakeholders towards resolving the industrial action.

The development followed an earlier five-day warning strike by the resident doctors, which was suspended after appeals from the hospital management and its board. The doctors subsequently issued an eight-week ultimatum over their demands.

PUNCH reported in August that the association had threatened to resume the industrial action if the issues remained unresolved.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors expressed solidarity with the LAUTECH doctors and warned that failure to resolve the issues could lead to regional and national industrial action.

NARD listed among the demands the payment of Medical Residency Training Funds, implementation of the corrected Professional Allowances Table, Minimum Wage arrears and other outstanding payments.