Healthcare services at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, remain crippled as the strike by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) enters its 10th day.
A visit to the hospital on Monday showed deserted Accident and Emergency (A&E) and Out-Patient Departments (OPD), with no patient activities ongoing.
The UCH ARD began an indefinite strike on November 1, following directives from its national body, the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The action stems from the federal government’s failure to implement a 200 per cent increase in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) and the full implementation of new allowances proposed since July 2022.
The doctors are also demanding the immediate recruitment of clinical staff and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks that delay the replacement of exiting doctors.
UCH ARD President, Dr. Gboyega Ajibola, said the strike has grounded most hospital services, including admissions and surgeries.
“We are not admitting patients because the workforce needed to manage them is on strike. Clinics are barely functional, as consultants alone cannot handle the volume of patients,” Ajibola said.
“It’s unfortunate because surgeries and emergency services have been halted. The hospital’s revenue and patients’ welfare have been severely affected.”
He urged the federal government to address the doctors’ demands, stressing that the strike is not a confrontation but a call for a fair, humane, and functional healthcare system.
“This is not a fight between the government and doctors or between doctors and patients,” he added. “We want a system that values both the caregivers and the people they serve.”
Ajibola also appealed to Nigerians to support their cause and pressure the government to act swiftly.
“We are eager to return to work and provide quality care, but doctors must also be supported to stay alive and effective. The government must address the root causes pushing doctors out of the system,” he said.
A patient, Mr. Peter Olarenwaju, expressed frustration over the situation.
“I came for treatment for knee pain, and my mother also needed medical attention, but we weren’t attended to. We are leaving without any help,” he lamented.
A doctor who spoke anonymously confirmed that the strike has caused a sharp drop in patient attendance.
“There are no admissions or surgeries. Investigations such as Ultrasound, Echocardiography, and CT Scans have been suspended, forcing patients to reschedule appointments and worsening their conditions,” the source said.
The doctor urged the government to improve doctors’ welfare, update medical equipment, and stop the casualisation of healthcare workers.
“Consultants are working, but the head alone cannot function without the neck and body,” the source added.
