NARD RAISES ALARM OVER MANPOWER SHORTAGE AT LAUTECH TEACHING HOSPITAL

Resident doctors at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, have raised concerns over the worsening shortage of medical personnel at the institution, warning that the situation could affect specialist training, healthcare delivery and patient care.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors expressed support for the Association of Resident Doctors, LAUTECH, and urged the Oyo State Government to urgently address the manpower, welfare and working-condition challenges facing doctors at the teaching hospital.

In a statement issued on Friday, NARD said several resident doctors had reportedly left the hospital in recent months without being replaced, while doctors who completed their residency programmes had also not been replaced.

The association said the shortage was particularly critical in specialties such as Anaesthesia, Chemical Pathology and Haematology, which it said currently had no resident doctors.

According to NARD, the manpower deficit was already affecting specialist training, medical services and patient care at the institution.

The association also raised concerns over unpaid financial and welfare entitlements owed to its members. These include outstanding minimum wage arrears, promotion and accoutrement allowance arrears, implementation of the approved new professional allowance for doctors and the release of the Medical Residency Training Fund.

NARD further called for the renovation and improvement of doctors’ call rooms and on-call facilities, as well as the immediate implementation of appropriate work-hour regulations to prevent excessive duty schedules and burnout.

The association recalled that the ARD LAUTECH suspended its industrial action on June 27, 2026, after an eight-week grace period was granted to allow the authorities to address the doctors’ grievances.

NARD commended the resident doctors for their patience and restraint, noting that they had continued to provide essential healthcare services to residents of Ogbomoso, Oyo, Iseyin and surrounding communities.

However, it warned that their continued patience should not be interpreted as acceptance of prolonged neglect.

“Patience must not be mistaken for acceptance of prolonged neglect,” the association said.

NARD described the outstanding demands as legitimate welfare and workplace concerns, stressing that resolving them promptly was necessary for both the welfare of doctors and the quality of healthcare delivery.

The association urged the Oyo State Government to urgently engage with the resident doctors and resolve the outstanding issues before the expiration of the ultimatum on August 28, 2026.

It warned that failure to address the manpower and welfare challenges could further weaken specialist training and healthcare delivery at the teaching hospital.