A total of 105 medical doctors resigned in Ondo State in 2020, according the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Ondo State Chairman of NMA, Dr Stella Adebgehingbe and the State Secretary, Dr Olorunfemi Owa, in a statement released in Akure, said the development was due to the poor remuneration pattern by the State Government.
According to both NMA Reps, the salaries were irregular and were paid in fractions.
The medical body leadership said that “Some Departments in the State-owned Teaching Hospital, which could hitherto boast of between 6 and 8 Doctors are now left with 1 or 2.
“This makes it practically impossible for the hospital to function at a minimum acceptable level.
“Consequential vacancies in the medical officer cadre need to be urgently filled. About 50 medical Doctors in this cadre have left the employment of the Hospital Management Board without replacement over the last few months.
“Yawning vacancies exist in the Resident Doctor and Consultant cadres at the Teaching Hospital.
“These have remained difficult to fill due to the haphazard salary payments.
“We have it on good record that about 105 medical doctors have resigned their employment from the Teaching Hospital in the last one year alone.
“This has made our work almost impossible because this group of doctors have a peculiar role in Health Service delivery.
“It is troubling to note that only 3 house officers are left in the service of the Ondo State Government across the 3 senatorial zones.
The NMA representatives added that, “There is no gainsaying that the ongoing laudable efforts at having a contributory Health Insurance Scheme in the state can only be successful if the urgent issue of manpower need is addressed.”