From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, yesterday rejected half salaries from Oyo State Government.
The Chairman MDCAN, Dr Adewale Adeyemi, disclosed this during a press conference held at the Administration Room of the teaching hospital in Ogbomoso, owns by the state government.
The association appealed to the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, to rescind his decision not to fully fund the teaching hospital any longer.
Adeyemi explained that the government owes all categories of workers since January 2016, adding that the government only paid 50 per cent of January to April 2016 salaries and no salary has been paid from May till date. He lamented that the 50 per cent of their January salary was received in August 2016.
His words: “Oyo State Government owes the staff of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital 50 per cent balance of January to April and 100 per cent of May to November 2016. This is in the interest of the continued existence of the hospital and in fulfilment of this administration’s promise to provide qualitative and affordable health care to people of Oyo State.”
Adeyemi further stated that the development would “certainly not augur well considering the laudable contributions made by the hospital in the provision of quality health care to Oyo State indigenes and other Nigerians at affordable cost.”
Adeyemi explained that tertiary health institutions are different from tertiary educational institutions, which should make the government to give teaching hospital special attention.
The training component in teaching hospital, according to him, “is without any fee payable by the students and any teaching hospital. LAUTECH Teaching Hospital serves as the clinical laboratories to the university.”
The association also urged the state to look into the some contracts on the supply of equipment to the hospital. He said some key equipment have not been fully supplied to the hospital and the contractors have been paid.
Adeyemi also contended that many of the equipment that were procured and supplied in 2011 before the take-off of the hospital have not been installed till date due to non-completion of ancillary structures needed for their installations.
He cited the MRI, Dental complex, patient’s elevator systems, and integrated IT systems, as part of the equipment that have not been installed.