Ondo resident doctors begin indefinite strike over welfare

Management pleads for more time to address grievances
Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), in Ondo City, headquarters of Ondo West Local Council of Ondo State have embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged poor conditions of service.

According to the medics, who protested within the premises of the medical facility, the industrial action became imperative following the alleged refusal of the hospital management to address their plights.

With their demands including a stop to illegal deductions, a check on huge payment of taxes, and non-payment of hazard allowance, the President of the UNIMEDTH ARD, Dr Olaogbe Kehinde, lamented their workload at the hospital.

While revealing that many doctors have resigned while others left without prior notification due to the prevailing issues, Olaogbe stated that the professionals could no longer work under conditions that undermine their well-being and compromise patient care.

He urged the state government to expedite payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances, improve working conditions in the three centres across the state, and ensure prompt implementation of their demands.

His words: “We demand the correction of irregularities and discrepancies in salary payment, the implementation of the new minimum wage scale, and parity in salary payment with other tertiary hospitals as stipulated in the teaching hospital constitution, among other issues.

“We deeply regret any inconveniences this strike may cause to patients and the public.”

Also, the immediate past president of the association, Dr John Matthew, said the disparity between the salary of doctors in Ondo and other states was huge due to “illegal deductions and taxes.”

He revealed that many Ondo doctors have taken up appointments in other states.

“We will not return to work until our demands are met. Money is the core issue because that is what is driving doctors away. There is a huge disparity in payment between Ondo and Ogun states. Doctors will go to states that are giving doctors good welfare packages, but they are worsening the terrible welfare here,” he added.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Gbala Micheal, pleaded with the striking workers for more time to enable the management to address their grievances.