Doctors deserting LAUTECH hospital in large numbers, union informs Makinde

The Association of Resident Doctors at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, has expressed serious concern over what it called a mass departure of medical staff from the hospital, warning that the facility was on the brink of “collapse.”

In an open letter dated 4th July 2025 and addressed to the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, the doctors revealed that the number of resident doctors had dropped from nearly 270 to fewer than 65.

The doctors attributed the mass exit to poor salaries, lack of government backing, and the delayed enforcement of wage-related policies, stating that many had taken up better-paying positions both within and outside the country.

They also expressed concern that certain departments were now functioning without junior registrars, while the remaining senior doctors were burdened with overwhelming workloads.

“Each week brings fresh resignation letters, compounding the strain on an already overstretched workforce,” the letter stated.

“Disturbingly, some core clinical departments are operating without junior registrars. Senior registrars preparing for their Part II fellowship examinations are frequently forced to be first-call duty doctors, with repeated calls weekly,” they added.

The union held the current crisis responsible for the failure to pay the new minimum wage package authorised by the state government in January 2025, in addition to the delay in the release of the Medical Residency Training Fund.

They cautioned that without immediate action, the hospital’s residency training programme might completely collapse.

“Central to this crisis is the non-implementation of the new minimum wage package signed into law by your administration in January 2025. While the package has been implemented for other health workers directly employed by the state, LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, operating on subvention, has not received the necessary increment to comply.

“This unsustainable situation has led to severe staff burnout, compromised patient care, and a deteriorating training environment. Without urgent intervention, residency training in the hospital is at serious risk of collapse,” the letter stated.

Appealing to the governor and concerned Nigerians, the doctors urged immediate action to prevent a total breakdown of the hospital’s operations.