The Senator Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation (SSACO) has decried the insensitivity of Governor Seyi Makinde to the plight of striking resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, saying it is also a sign of failure of healthcare delivery to the masses.
The organisation, in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity Bisi Oladele on Sunday, described the strike that has lasted over 30 days as unacceptable, saying it further exposes the administration’s poor handling of welfare and working conditions of medical personnel in the state.
The organisation equally expressed concern over the 21-day warning strike issued by the Association of Medical and Dental Officers of Oyo State (AMDO) over unresolved welfare, remuneration and conditions-of-service issues.
It said the situation was particularly disturbing because medical workers were being compelled to embark on industrial action over issues bordering on payment of allowances, residency training funds and salary arrears.
The SSACO said resident doctors had demanded the payment of outstanding Medical Residency Training Fund and six months’ Minimum Wage arrears, among other welfare-related issues.
It said that the prolonged dispute has negative effects on healthcare delivery as the strike has limited the teaching hospital’s medical services with grave implications on the masses who have been forced to either go to private hospitals or endure extensively long time to access care in the hospital.
“The SSACO is concerned about Governor Seyi Makinde’s failure to sit with the striking resident doctors and find a lasting solution to their demands. As the strike prolongs, the resident doctors feel maltreated, while the masses bear the brunt of government’s insensitivity.
“Healthcare delivery is a critical service which serious administrations treat with urgency and with the importance it deserves. With this prolonged strike, our resident doctors are feeling maltreated while the masses suffer. The medical and dental officers across state hospitals have also served notice of a warning strike. This combination is a signal of government failure in the health sector. It is unacceptable in our dear state.
“Healthcare occupies a priority position in Senator Sharafadeen Alli’s Oyo AHEAD agenda. Health workers and other civil servants will not be denied their entitlements. They will enjoy training and retraining, and they will have facilities to work with.” The statement read in part.
The organisation said continued industrial action in the health sector could portend serious consequences for patients who depend on public hospitals for specialised and affordable medical treatment, challenging the Makinde government to explain its continued neglect of medical workers, nonchalant treatment of their complaints, and its general belief that the welfare of the people of Oyo State is totally inconsequential, despite advertised propaganda of improved service delivery.