Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
The Association of resident Doctors, Lagos University Teaching hospitals, (LUTH) Chapter has lamented poor attitudes of the hospital’s management to welfare of its members.
The doctors who vented their anger at a press conference held on Wednesday at the LUTH’s ARD Lounge also complained about the poor state of medical facilities at the hospital.
LUTH ARD’s President, Dr. Akinkunmi Afolabi said doctors have only been paid 60 to 70 per cent of their salaries.
He said, “This anomaly is worrisome because out of about 50 federal institutions, only 15 including LUTH continue with the unfortunate practice of part payment of salaries. While our colleagues in other in other centres have enjoyed 100 per cent salaries for several months, the value of areas continue to nosedive with worsening economic situation.”
Afolabi called on the Minister of Health, LUTH management, Budget Office and other well-meaning Nigerians to intervene before it leads to industrial action.
The intervention he said is critical because of the unprecedented hardship on ARD members.
He described the trend as a sad situation where LUTH management continue to hold doctors’ salaries saying that December 2014 salaries were only paid in march 2015 and December 2015 salaries were only paid in June 2016.
Afolabi said, “We hope there will not be a repeat of what has been a tortuous experience for our members come December 2016as we intent to put smiles on the faces of our loved ones.”
The LUTH ARD President also called for the full implementation of the National Health Act by the Federal Government.
He said, “We also call for implementation of the new residency training template and improved funding of programme.
This he noted, remains the solution to curb medical tourism, if it’s properly harnessed, “We will earn foreign exchange from outsiders seeking healthcare in our country. Sadly, despite the best efforts of government, recent evidence and commentaries suggest that billions of dollars of scarce foreign exchange are expanded annually on medical tourism to countries with better health system. The is compounded by unrelenting brain drain of our best minds including doctors to other countries with better health system and welfare for healthcare professionals.”
On the dilapidated infrastructure, Afolabi stated that upgrading of medical equipment at LUTH was part of the ARD’s demand during March, 2016 strike action saying that, “the reason for the continues disaffection of our profession is not far-fetched because doctors in LUTH specifically work under the heavy strain of poor infrastructures.”
Meanwhile, efforts to get reaction from the management proved abortive as the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), LUTH, Dr. Olufemi Fasanmade was not on seat in his office for comment while the PRO couldn’t be reached on his mobile.
