The strike action by the Association of Resident Doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, has left patients stranded, with some fatalities recorded.
About 60 resident doctors commenced an indefinite strike on July 29 over the non-implementation of the minimum wage for LAUTECH staff, despite its enforcement for other healthcare workers in Oyo State. The doctors also cited failure to disburse the Medical Residency Training Fund and provide accoutrement allowances, resulting in staff attrition and increased workload.
The impact has been severe on patients and families. An 85-year-old man reportedly died after delays in accessing specialised care due to the strike.
His daughter, Adeola, lamented that her father’s condition deteriorated when there were no doctors to process his MRI results. Other patients also recounted worsening health conditions and financial struggles to seek treatment in private hospitals.
President of the LAUTECH ARD, Dr Stephen Adedokun, confirmed that meetings with state officials before the strike yielded no results. He urged government intervention to prevent further loss of lives.
