Doctors, led by Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Osun State Chapter, Dr. Tokunbo Olajumoke, on Thursday protested against their “mutilated salary” and poor condition of hospitals across the state.
It comes a month after a similar protest was held by the doctors over the same issues.
The doctors, who protested from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo to other major parts of the town alleged that the Osun State Government had neglected the health sector in the state.
Addressing newsmen, Olajumoke said it was unfortunate that despite the agitation of the doctors in the last three months, the government had not called for any official meeting to dialogue with them on the issues raised.
Olajumoke said salaries of doctors had been slashed drastically, saying they were now receiving 30 percent of their salaries while the state government was taxing them based on the 100 percent of the salaries.
He said that the doctors were not carried along when Governor Rauf Aregbesola decided to order that their salaries should be slashed.
“Our protest is not only centred on our salaries but state hospitals lack equipment and drugs. The conditions of our hospitals are bad. There are no drugs, the most expensive drugs in many hospitals are Paracetamol and other painkillers.
“We say no to obnoxious tax regime, we say no to amputated salaries and we want our hospitals to work in the interest of the people who cannot afford to seek treatment abroad.
“After today’s protest, we will review our strategies and we will come up with a more drastic action and that is why we are calling on major stakeholders in the state to talk to the governor. We cannot give half treatment to our patients because we are being paid amputated salaries.
“We have done everything humanly possible but the governor is recalcitrant. We also will not allow our rights to be trampled upon and keep silent,” Olajumoke said.
