Strengthen manpower, infrastructure in teaching hospitals, MDCN urges FG

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The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, University College Hospital, Ibadan Chapter, Oyo State, on Monday called on the Federal Government to urgently strengthen manpower and infrastructure in teaching hospitals across the country to address growing pressure on the nation’s tertiary healthcare system.

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The association also urged the government to constitute boards of management for federal tertiary hospitals, release funds for approved medical equipment, address delays in salary payments under the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System and provide incentives for medical lecturers who are bearing additional workloads.

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The Chairman of MDCAN, UCH Chapter, Dr Oluseyi Akande, made the demands in Ibadan, the state capital, during the association’s biennial press briefing held as part of its 2026 Annual General Meeting.

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Akande said the absence of boards of management in UCH and many other federal tertiary hospitals for more than two years had slowed decision-making and affected the smooth administration of the institutions.

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He said the previous boards were dissolved by the Federal Government after the expiration of their tenure, leaving the Chief Medical Directors to oversee the day-to-day administration of the hospitals without the institutional support of their governing boards.

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“While the Chief Medical Director, as Chief Executive Officer, oversees day-to-day operations, the Hospital’s Board of Management is to equip, maintain, and operate the hospital, as stated in the University Teaching Hospital Act.

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“The boards are responsible for providing policy direction and taking critical decisions and approvals required for the effective running of the hospitals.”

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He said the absence of the boards meant that some approvals and decisions had to be referred to the coordinating Minister of Health, a situation he said had created delays because of the volume of responsibilities handled by the minister.

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“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to, as a matter of urgency, constitute the Board of Management of the Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria to ensure their smooth running and timely delivery of their mandates,” he said.

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The association also raised concerns over the Federal Government’s decision to increase admission quotas for Colleges of Medicine, including the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, without corresponding improvement in infrastructure and manpower.

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Akande said the increase was aimed at addressing the shortage of medical personnel in the country, but warned that the policy could place additional pressure on existing facilities and personnel if implementation was not matched with adequate investment.

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He said although the government had intervened directly by providing infrastructure to accommodate the increased admission capacity, the implementation had been slow.

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“At the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, these structures are not ready, even though the number of students admitted increased since last year,” he said.

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Akande called on the Federal Government to expedite the completion of the infrastructure and strengthen monitoring to ensure that the interventions were delivered on schedule.

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He also stressed the need for increased recruitment of medical lecturers and other personnel to cope with the higher number of students.

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“Medical consultants serving as lecturers have the dual responsibility of teaching medical students and resident doctors while also providing clinical services at the teaching hospital.”

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He said the workload had become heavier due to the migration of health professionals abroad and the poor state of primary and secondary healthcare facilities in many parts of the country.

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“Our members are already overworked in the hospital because of Japa syndrome and almost non-existent primary and secondary health care facilities in most states of the Federation,” Akande said.

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He urged the government to increase the staff strength of Colleges of Medicine and introduce appropriate incentives and remuneration for medical lecturers who are required to take on additional responsibilities.

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“Medicine is an apprenticeship, as we say; training of extra medical students is demanding and should be adequately compensated,” he said.

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The MDCAN chairman suggested that the government could adopt the existing earned allowances framework in universities as a starting point for compensating medical lecturers undertaking additional workloads.

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The association also expressed concern over delays in the payment of salaries to newly employed consultants and those who transfer from other hospitals to UCH through IPPIS.

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Akande said some newly employed consultants had experienced months of salary delays as a result of bureaucratic processes involving the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and the Accountant-General’s office.

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He said the situation had caused significant hardship for affected doctors and their families while also undermining morale and productivity.

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“Imagine a senior medical practitioner leaving one job for another, only to go months without salary. Such experiences discourage productivity and commitment to work,” he said.

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The association therefore called on the Federal Government to decentralise the IPPIS payroll process as much as possible to ensure that newly employed workers and those transferring between institutions could receive their salaries promptly after assuming duty.

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“A labourer is worthy of his timely wages. Salary is a right and not a privilege,” Akande said.

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MDCAN also appealed to the Federal Government to release funds approved in the 2025 budget for the procurement of life-saving equipment for UCH.

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“I would also like to draw attention to the fact that the Federal Government of Nigeria is yet to release funds to the University College Hospital for the procurement of many life-saving equipment budgeted for in 2025,” he said.

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He urged the government to release the funds without further delay, stressing that the equipment was necessary for the hospital to effectively perform its responsibilities in clinical services, training and research.

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The association further appealed to Nigerians to desist from violence against healthcare workers, describing attacks on doctors and other health professionals as an increasing concern across the country.

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Akande said health workers understood the seriousness of their responsibilities and continued to provide care as empathetically as possible, but noted that some factors affecting patient outcomes were beyond their control.

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“Although health care workers are essential to providing quality health care, some factors are beyond our control,” he said.

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He cited inadequate or obsolete equipment and unreliable electricity supply as examples of challenges that could undermine healthcare delivery regardless of the commitment of medical personnel.

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The MDCAN chairman urged patients and relatives who felt dissatisfied with the care provided to seek redress through legitimate channels rather than resorting to violence.

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“Such acts are illegal and are punishable under the law,” he warned.

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Akande said violence against healthcare workers could discourage and demotivate medical personnel at a time when the country was already facing a shortage of skilled health professionals.

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He commended the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, for its recent efforts to tackle violence against healthcare workers.

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The chairman also congratulated members of the association on the 2026 Annual General Meeting, which includes a scientific conference, sports activities, courtesy visits, the annual general meeting proper, a luncheon and a thanksgiving service.

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