...Give CMD 21 day Ultimatum to repair X-Ray, Ultra Sound
Machines, pay salaries or face full blown strike
This may not be the best of times for patients at the
University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) as senior doctors and consultants
have joined the call for the repair in the decaying infrastructure and
equipment in the hospital which is affecting the delivery of health services in
the hospital.
Following the declaration of a state of emergency UBTH Edo
State due to infrastructure decay and management irresponsibility, the Medical
and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) UBTH Chapter have
ultimatum to the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Michael Ibadin,
notifying him of an industrial action they would embark on if the hospital
management does not fix the anomalies being experienced in the prestigious
teaching hospital which started since the CMD took over. The association is
made up consultants and senior staff members of the hospital.
In a letter dated April 4, 2017 and signed by the
association’s Chairman, Prof. C.A Okonkwo Secretary, Dr. S.U. Okugbo
(Secretary), the consultants said that the failure of management to
appropriately tackle the issue of decaying of infrastructure and equipment at
the hospital, poor working environment and non-implement policies concerning
the welfare of doctors as approved by the Federal Government for doctors led to
an Emergency General Meeting (EMG) which held on Monday, April 3, 2017 and
hence their decision to embark on an industrial strike.
The consultants stated in the letter their grievances as, "poor working environment in the hospital, as evident by non-functionality of
the Radiology Department (x-ray machines, ultrasound machines), non-functional
Radiotherapy machine, malfunctioning air conditioners in theater, epileptic
power supply especially to Pathology department."
The association also lamented that their members are, "aggrieved about the haphazard implementation of skipping for honourary
consultants to the total exclusion of hospital consultants as well as the
reversal in entry point of consultants from CONMESS 5, step 7 t0 5 step 1."
Okonkwo also said in the letter that members of the
association are also "vexed with the persistent shortfalls in salaries of
honourary consultants since July 2016 without any visible resolution in the
horizon." Some of these issues discussed during the emergency session resulted
in the association resolving that management should start the "correction of
all inadequacies in the provision of health services in the hospital X-ray
machines and the repair of theater air conditioners as well as the provision of
equipment for use in clinical and rehabilitation areas."
The consultants also demanded for skipping for all
consultants whether honourary or hospital and a return to entry point CONMESS 5
step 7 for consultants as approved by the Board of Management UBTH as well as
payment for all outstanding shortfalls for honourary consultants for July,
September, October, November and December 2016 and January 2017.
The consultants while giving a 21 day ultimatum to
management to meet all their demands or face a full blown strike reminded the
CMD, Prof Ibadin, that members of MDCAN have been supportive of his
administration and shown patience and understanding with respect to salaries
shortfall since last year even as the hospital is regarded as the highest
grossing internally generated revenue (IGR) in the whole country.
This move by the consultants is coming following an appeal
to them by the members of the Association of Resident Doctors (UBTH) who called
for their intervention in the faceoff the ARD were having with the CMD over the
decay in infrastructure and payment of salaries and arrears of their members
some of who were being owed 12 months salaries.
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