Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Ondo State have began a 14-day warning strike due to the non-payment of seven months’ salaries to new members, as announced by the union’s President, Dr. John Matthew, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
The striking doctors also conducted a peaceful protest, displaying various placards to emphasize their grievances and threatened to disrupt hospital activities if their demands remain unmet.
Dr. Matthew highlighted additional concerns, including the non-payment of palliatives to House Officers since February, failure to receive February hazard allowances despite assurances from the state government, and staff shortages resulting from doctor resignations within the institution. He noted a significant decrease in ARD membership, with only 26 members currently compared to 150 a few months ago.
“We demand full payment of the arrears of salaries owed to our members and payment of February 2024 palliative to our House officers,” he told The Nation.
“Management should pay February hazard allowance to our members and urgently address the severe clinical manpower shortage in the institution.”
“Our members work every day. There are no staff due to Japa syndrome,” he added.
