NMA: Over 100 doctors have resigned in Ondo over salary issues

The Ondo chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) says at least 105 doctors working in state-owned hospitals, resigned their appointment in the past year.

In a statement signed by Stella Adegbehingbe, the state NMA chairman, and Olorunfemi Owa, its secretary, the association blamed the mass resignation on irregular and percentage payment of salaries by the Ondo government.

The association alleged that some doctors have left the employment of the hospital management board and their positions have not been filled.

“Some Departments in the State-owned Teaching Hospital, which could hitherto boast of between 6 and 8 Doctors are now left with 1 or 2 Doctors. This makes it practically impossible for the hospital to function at a minimum acceptable level,” the statement reads.

“Consequential vacancies in the medical officer cadre need to be urgently tilled. About 50 medical Doctors in this cadre have left the employment of the Hospital Management Board without replacement over the last few months.

“Yawning vacancies exist in the Resident Doctor and Consultant cadres at the Teaching Hospital. These have remained difficult to fill due to the haphazard safety payments.

“We have it on good records that about 105 medical doctors have resigned their employment from the Teaching Hospital in the last year alone.

“Ondo State has not been able to engage requisite numbers of House Officers since 2019. This has made our work almost impossible because this group of Doctors has a peculiar role in Health service delivery.

“It is troubling to note that only three House Officers are left in the service of the Ondo State Government across the three senatorial zones in the state.

“There is no gainsaying that the ongoing laudable efforts at having a Contributory Health Insurance Scheme in the state can only be successful if the urgent issue of manpower need is adequately addressed.”

Doctors and nurses in the state had embarked on an indefinite strike in February over poor working conditions and salary cut.

Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor, had informed labour union leaders in the state that borrowing to augment payment of salaries was no longer sustainable.

While the labour unions had agreed to the payment of half salaries, as well as adopting the model in use by the local government for future salary payment, the doctors rejected the proposed plan, saying they were not part of the meeting where the agreement was reached.

The doctors had said they could not survive on 50 percent salary.