The Medical Guild says the House Officers’ Quarters at General Hospital Odan, Lagos, should be declared fit for occupation only after appropriate safety inspections and independent verification.
The Guild’s chairman, Dr Oluwole Olusanya, made the remarks at a news conference on Monday as part of activities marking the Guild’s centenary of healthcare delivery.
“We do not believe that a facility should be declared ready for occupation simply because construction or renovation has been completed.
“Safety must be independently verified, not merely assumed.
“Going forward, we advocate a comprehensive approach that includes structural and engineering assessments, certification of relevant installations, particularly lifts and other critical systems, a sustainable maintenance plan, and clear accountability for facility management,” he said.
Olusanya said the condition of the quarters remained a significant institutional issue requiring continued attention following the lift collapse that claimed the life of Dr Vwaere Diaso.
Diaso, a medical house officer at General Hospital Odan, died on Aug. 1, 2023, from injuries sustained when the lift she was in crashed from the 10th floor of the medical officers’ quarters.
Olusanya said her death remained a painful reminder of the risks healthcare workers could face beyond the clinical environment.
He said the Guild had consistently maintained that doctors’ welfare must extend beyond salaries and allowances.
“Safe accommodation, functional infrastructure, reliable utilities, and an environment conducive to rest and recovery are essential components of healthcare workforce welfare.
“Our visit to the Odan facility forms part of our commitment to ensuring that this tragedy is not forgotten and that lessons are translated into practical improvements.”
Olusanya said the Guild would continue engaging relevant authorities for verified updates on the rehabilitation work, including its scope, completed works, outstanding requirements and the expected timeline for safe occupation.
He acknowledged progress in discussions with the state government, particularly on the harmonisation and implementation of revised professional and specialist allowances.
However, he expressed concern about outstanding payments, implementation gaps and discrepancies affecting eligible categories of doctors.
He urged relevant government agencies to expedite the reconciliation and payment of arrears, resolve administrative inconsistencies and ensure that all eligible medical and dental practitioners received their approved entitlements.
The chairman also called for improved residential accommodation for doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), stressing that suitable accommodation was not a luxury.
“It is an investment in workforce stability, timely clinical response, staff wellbeing, and the effective delivery of healthcare services.”
Olusanya said the Guild would continue engaging with the government and healthcare institutions to address staffing pressures, infrastructure deficiencies and other challenges affecting service delivery.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare, supporting young doctors and improving working conditions across public health facilities.
“For 100 years, doctors represented by the Medical Guild have worked across the public healthcare system to provide care, save lives, relieve suffering, and contribute to the health and productivity of our communities.”
He acknowledged that challenges remained, adding that patients’ expectations for shorter waiting times, better-equipped facilities, more affordable care and improved access to quality healthcare were legitimate.
Meeting those expectations, he said, required sustained investment in health infrastructure, adequate staffing, improved working conditions, effective governance, reliable funding and constructive collaboration among stakeholders.
Olusanya reaffirmed the Guild’s commitment to advocating policies that improved doctors’ wellbeing while advancing the interests of patients and the public.
On the centenary programme, he said activities already held included medical outreaches, hospital visits, institutional engagements and sporting events.
He announced that the Guild’s Centenary Opening Ceremony and Scientific Conference would be held on Oct. 27, under the theme, “100 Years of Healthcare Delivery: Celebrating the Past, Transforming the Present, Shaping the Future.”
The events are expected to bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, academics and other stakeholders to reflect on healthcare development in Lagos and explore strategies for strengthening the health system.
Olusanya said the centenary should go beyond ceremonies and deliver lasting improvements in doctors’ welfare and healthcare services. He called on the Lagos State Government, healthcare institutions, corporate partners and the public to support efforts to build a stronger health system that meets residents’ needs.
The Medical Guild, founded in 1926, is the umbrella body for medical and dental practitioners employed by the Lagos State Government across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.
