EBSUTH loses 48 doctors to strike

By Dennis Agbo

ABAKALIKI—No fewer than 48 doctors have left the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), even as the Chairman, Association of Resident Doctors in the hospital,  Dr. Umoke, yesterday, confirmed that the doctors are still on strike, though other workers of the teaching hospital had suspended theirs.

Umoke said discussions are still on-going between the doctors and the board of the teaching hospital after last week’s meeting was inconclusive. “We will meet again tomorrow (today) or next (tomorrow) and if anything concrete comes up, I will let you know,” Umoke to Vanguard yesterday.

Even though the doctors are still on strike, our investigation reveals that no fewer than  48 consultants and specialist doctors have resigned their appointment with the teaching hospital, since the recent strike action started.

Dr. Umoke confirmed the development, adding that he was not sure of the numbers, since they exit on a daily basis, especially the house officers, who he said most times stay with the patients.

More personnel of the teaching hospital, including four consultants have also left the hospital in search for greener pastures, since April 2009, when the institution was shut down over disagreement between the hospital workers and the state government.

There are fears that 14 doctors being trained outside Ebonyi under the sponsorship of EBUTH may not return to the teaching hospital at the completion of their training programme, because of the current uncompetitive remuneration in the state teaching hospital.