Health services were crippled at the University College Hospital, (UCH), Ibadan, yesterday, following the industrial action embarked upon by resident doctors in the hospital.

Findings revealed that skeletal services were only rendered by nurses, physiotherapists and other health officials.

Patients who required the services of members of National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) were said to have left the hospital unattended to, while those with other ailments were treated.

Newswatch Times learnt that the doctors’ grouse was the non-implementation of a circular on casualisation of medical officers and welfare of workers.

UCH President of NARD, Dr. Lukman Ogunjimi, said “we are against casualisation and we want skipping to be implemented as directed by the Federal Government.”

Ogunjimi disclosed that the Federal Government has said in the circular that a particular salary grade level should be skipped, adding that while some health personnel have been enjoying that, resident doctors were exempted.

He said the affected doctors would meet next Monday to review the situation and map out the way forward.

However, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Temitope Alonge, said there was no doctor on casual status at UCH, adding that some of the issues raised were internal ones which had long been resolved.

It was, however, learnt that physiotherapists, nurses and allied health workers may join their colleagues next week as the Federal Government was yet to address their problems as well.

•Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo shows front view of UCH.

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