Doctors accuse CMDs of defying court orders

The President, Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital chapter, Dr. Adegboyega Fakunle, has accused the Chief Medical Directors of 12 federal hospitals of defying court judgments regarding their salary structure.

Fakunle claimed that the hospitals also disobeyed the submissions of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogora as well as the ministerial directives on the issue.

The ARD boss, who spoke against the backdrop of the ongoing resident doctors’ strike, identified  some of the affected hospitals as UITH, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, and the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

He spoke to our correspondent in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Sunday.

According to him, the striking doctors had made several representations to leadership of their different hospitals to obey the directives, but such efforts proved abortive.

He said, “About 35 federal medical institutions in the country have complied with the directive. Only UITH and a few others have yet to comply.”

Fakunle, who noted that doctors should not be denied their legitimate requests, called on the defaulting hospitals to comply with the directive to avoid further embarrassment to the sector.

He stated that granting their demand would also reduce the hardship that patients face during an industrial action.

But the Head, Personnel and Training, UITH, Mr. Suraju Ayotunde said the hospital did not disobey Dogara and court judgment.

He stated that UITH management had been in dialogue with the striking doctors on how to resolve the impasse amicably.

According to him, the management of the hospital will not do anything inappropriate.

He called on the striking doctors to appreciate the oath they swore to protect lives and end the industrial action in the interest of the suffering patients.

PUNCH.