Brain drain hits LAUTECH Teaching Hospital as doctors down tools

The Association of Resident Doctors of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology [LAUTECH] Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has vowed not to call off its on-going indefinite withdrawal of services until the state government commences allocations of full subventions and adequate funds, alongside unflinching political will.
This is contained in a statement signed by the
Association’s President, Dr. Sebastine Oiwoh, and the General Secretary, Dr. Ayobami Alabi.
The statement called for immediate stoppage of all attempts by management of the hospital to casualise Doctors, adding that the association will
resist this vehemently as it is unacceptable to the noble profession.
 Despite repeated warnings by the Nigerian Medical Association ( NMA)
, it stated that plans have reached an advanced stage to implement the
dangerous  and diabolical policy.
The Association also demanded an immediate reversal of the salary of
its members in the teaching hospital  to what is obtainable in federal
teaching hospitals, as is stipulated in the edict of the health
institution , and not the demeaning and paltry 28 percent presently
being paid since January 2016 salary.
‘’We are being owed over eleven months salaries. Our indefinite
withdrawal of services enters day six today. This action was after
exhausting all means of dialogue with several ultimatum shifted for
the sake of our patients, populace and for the good of the hospital.
Sad to note is the fact that the state government has continued to
suspend the reversal of this illegal and inconsiderate action of
percentage salary payment which is 28 percent of what is expected. The
attendant jeopardy to the future of all with impaired quality of life
alongside direct and indirect loss of life is unimaginable’’ the
release pointed out.
It went further, ‘’ Equipment delivery and infrastructural development
have remained relatively same since the last one year despite promise
by the stakeholders to wade in for palpable solutions. Demoralising is
the fact that the daily geometrical proportion of exit of consultants
and residents seem not to bother the powers that be, rather the excuse
of no funds for employment of more resident doctors has now been
parried aside for casualisation of  this noble Hippocratic profession.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND WILL BE RESISTED. It appears to us there is
some form of deceit in some quarters’’.
The association of resident doctors further called for full
sponsorship for all training, revision courses, update courses,
supranumerary postings, research grants, research and methodology,
while management courses should be implemented in full by the
management without further delay.
‘’That the state of the art equipment yet to the delivered should be
delivered and installed while the ones delivered be put to use.
Infrastructures should be completed in the hospital without further
delay. The massive brain drain in the hospital should be stopped by
immediate improvement in the working conditions, appropriate
remuneration of our members as well as employment of sufficient staff
to keep the hospital at the best position for delivery of the zenith
of all health care’’.
It equally demanded for a proper board of management to be constituted
for the hospital,  and not the statutory membership as is being run
now.
Conclusively, the Association affirmed its resolution on its demands,
reiterating that it shall continue in the withdrawal of services until
all its demands are met, so that the health of its members and the
people of Oyo state can be safeguarded.