The hospital’s facilities, worsening welfare conditions, and the hospital’s Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, have sparked concern.
The doctors listed unpaid arrears, a lack of essential equipment, and a lack of infrastructure as major challenges as they faced as they arose from its third Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of the 2024/2025 executive year, which took place on Friday, September 19, 2025.
Despite being repeatedly reminded to management, ARD DELSUTH condemned the non-payment of 13 months of revised CONMESS arrears and 25 months of accoutrement arrears in a communiqué signed by its president, Dr. Oghenetega Ejeheri.
“Our members continue to work in these circumstances while the arrears continue to erupt. These benefits are entitlements, according to Dr. Ejeheri, not privileges.
The doctors also complained that the essential equipment was lacking for efficient healthcare delivery. They claim that the Orthopaedic Center’s abandoned instruments, including ventilators, advanced multi-parameter monitors, and other promised life-saving devices, have not yet been delivered.
Because our CT scanner lacks an automated contrast injector, patients still need to be referred to Warri for basic radiological investigations. The statement in the communiqué says that this defeats the purpose of the machine.
Regarding manpower shortages, the association noted that few departments’ limited hiring had not reduced the strain, leaving overworked residents.
“Our members’ level of burnout is alarming,” says one member. Without more hands being immediately hired, service delivery and training will continue to suffer, according to Dr. Ejeheri.
The doctors also criticized the inappealing state of call rooms, claiming that many doctors are forced to sleep in their cars or share beds because of inadequate amenities. They also criticized the house officers’ removal from the hospital’s housing allocation committee, calling it a deliberate attempt to undermine the association.
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Other concerns are raised about the hospital’s poor management of the Delta State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, the hospital’s inability to provide medications in the pharmacy because there isn’t an electronic inventory system, and the food vendor debts that have affected doctor on-call meals.
Management must urgently address these issues, including the resolution to settle all outstanding debts, the quick-tracking of unaccredited departments, the improvement of call centers, and the purchase of necessary equipment, according to ARD DELSUTH.
“We cannot continue to work in a setting that threatens both our welfare and the standard of care that patients receive.” We might have no choice but to take decisive industrial action if no urgent steps are taken, the doctors warned.
Source: Channels TV
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