The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to urgently address welfare concerns affecting medical practitioners at the facility.
The doctors specifically called for the release of the Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) and payment of outstanding minimum wage arrears.
The association made the appeal in an open letter to the governor on Monday, signed by its President, Dr Mustapha Adedapo, and General Secretary, Dr John Stephen.
While acknowledging the state government’s efforts in improving healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to medical services, the doctors said unresolved welfare issues were affecting resident doctors and could impact healthcare delivery.
The group praised the administration’s investment in the health sector and prayed for the safe rescue of abducted schoolchildren in the state, but urged the government to give immediate attention to the challenges confronting healthcare workers.
According to the doctors, the continued delay in releasing the MRTF has placed additional financial pressure on resident doctors undergoing postgraduate medical training. They explained that the fund, established under the Medical Residency Training Act of 2017, was designed to support doctors during their residency programmes.
The association claimed that eligible resident doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital have not benefited from the fund since the law came into effect, adding that Oyo State remains the only state in the South-West region yet to commence disbursement.
It warned that the situation has contributed to the loss of medical personnel, with some departments experiencing severe manpower shortages due to doctors leaving for facilities with better support systems.
The association stated that the release of the residency fund would go beyond improving doctors’ welfare, noting that it would help strengthen the state’s healthcare system by improving staff retention and maintaining quality medical services.
The doctors also called on the governor to settle outstanding minimum wage-related arrears owed to healthcare workers, saying the delay had worsened the financial difficulties faced by workers amid rising inflation, transportation expenses and increased cost of living.
They cautioned that failure to resolve the issues could accelerate the migration of skilled medical professionals and affect the state’s ability to sustain an effective healthcare workforce.
The association therefore urged the Makinde administration to prioritise the payment of the arrears, approve the immediate release of the MRTF and continue dialogue with healthcare professionals to create a more supportive working environment.
The doctors reaffirmed their commitment to serving residents of Oyo State, expressing optimism that the government would respond positively to their demands in the interest of strengthening healthcare delivery.
