Abiola Kolawole, Ibadan
The University Teaching Hospital, Ibadan Branch of the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), has cried iut to the authorities concerned that their members and younger colleagues (interns) in the hospital have not been paid their salaries and allowances in the last three months.
MDCAN Chairman, Dr. Victor Makanjuola made this stated this while addressing journalists at a press conference in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
Makanjuola who insisted that medical and dental consultants in the hospital have been consistently delivering clinical services in the hospital despite the fact they have not been paid in the last three months, maintained that the need to raise the alarm was to correct what he called “erroneous belief by the public that doctors always go on strike for money”.
He added that despite the non-payment of salaries in the last three months members of the association preventedare committed to assisting the less privileged in the society.
Makanjuola while speaking further at the press conference heralding the association’s annual general meeting under the theme, “Team Building in the Health Management and Leadership in Contemporary Nigeria”, however warned that the patience of the consultants should not be taken for granted.
He then appealed to the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Temitope Alonge, Chairman of the Board of Management Alhaji Atiku Bako Bagudu Shettima and the Minister of Health, Professor Isacc Adewole to quickly wade in and resolve the issues surrounding the delay in the payment of their salaries and allowances.
Makanjuola said, “I must also bring to the notice of the general public that we, the Medical and Dental Consultants as well as some of our younger colleagues (interns) in UCH have not been paid our allowances and salaries for the past three months.
“Nevertheless, we have been consistently delivering clinical services. This information is important to correct the erroneous belief by the general public that doctors always go on strike for money.
“As you must have noted that in the program line-up that non-payment of salaries has also not prevented us, as an association, from being charitable to the less privileged.
“However, these considerations that are borne out of the nobility of the profession should not be taken for granted as we look forward to a speedy resolution of the impasse with regards to our yet-to-be-paid allowances.”
Dr Makanjuola used the opportunity of the press conference appreciate the hospital’s management led by Professor Temitope Alonge, the Chairman Board of Management, Alhaji Bako Bagudu Shettima and the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole for their efforts so far in resolving the delay in payment of our allowances reportedly due to migration of resident doctors to the IPPIS system”.
The theme, “Team Building in the Health Management and Leadership in Contemporary Nigeria”, is in recognition of the unhealthy interprofessional rivalry in the health sector, its attendant negative effects on service delivery and health related indices and the need to reverse the ugky situation as a matter of national emergency.
