Resident Doctors Ground UPTH, Allege Maladministration

Resident doctors and
other health workers under the Joint Health Workers Union, at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) have continued their strike action over alleged maladministration by the management of the hospital.
President of the Resident Doctors, Dr Dan Jumbo, accused the management of UPTH of administrative lapses which he said had affected the smooth running of the institution.
Dan Jumbo who spoke with The Tide said the strike action which was suspended last September due to public outcry was to register the displeasure of the resident doctors, over the management of the Hospital.
He said, the resident doctors are owed two years promotion arrears, while salaries are delayed and paid in batches.
Jumbo decried the lack of manpower training in the hospital, noting that sponsorship for special courses has been suspended in the past two years.
The resident doctors also accused the management of the hospital of diversion of internally generated revenue in the hospital into personal coffer’, and recommended e-payment for all transactions in the hospital to check financial impropriety.
Dan Jumbo also faulted the stoppage of teaching allowances previously earned by resident doctors and health workers, which is now the exclusive entitlement of senior registrars and consultants, stating that the action was taken without clearance from the National Salary and Wages Commission.
Also, the deduction of one month call duty allowance from the 12 months, previously earned by the workers as a result annual leave was said to have pitched the striking workers against management.
Although consultants at the hospital are not part of the strike, the complementary services of other health workers, such as nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists among other have been withdrawn due to the strike action.
A consultant who spoke with The Tide on condition of anonymity said, “although consultants manage the patients, the strike action has hampered their services, as it would amount to a great risk for consultants to attend to patients without other complementary medical services”.
The Rivers State branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), has however waded into the disagreement between the striking workers and the management of UPTH.
President of the Rivers State branch of NMA Dr Ibitrokoemi Korubo who commended on the issue, in an interview with The Tide, said it was imperative for the management of the hospital and workers to work together for better service delivery.
He regretted the consequences of the strike action on patients, and disclosed that the NMA, had held a series of meetings with both parties to resolve the issue.
When contacted on phone, the Chief Medical Director of UPTH, Prof Aaron Ojule declined to comment on the issue.

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina, Onigando of Igando, Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, at the inauguration of Maternal and and Child Health Centre in Lagos, last Thursday

Taneh Beemene