The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has criticised the ruling All Progressives Congress over the poor state of public hospitals in the state, blaming the current administration for the alleged neglect of the health sector.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, the PDP claimed that healthcare facilities across the state had deteriorated under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, leading to a collapse in healthcare delivery.
Peretei highlighted the issue of manpower shortages and substandard working conditions for medical professionals.
He cited a report by the Nigerian Medical Association, which noted that the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Ondo currently has only 22 resident doctors, compared to 150 in previous years.
Additionally, the hospital lacks specialised resident doctors in fields such as orthopaedics, mental health, and paediatric surgery.
“The state General Hospitals in Iwaro-Oka, Ipe, Irele, and Idoani, which previously had at least five doctors each, now have just one doctor per hospital, who is on call duty for the entire week and still attends to the day-to-day running of the hospital,” the statement read.
The PDP further alleged that the state’s recently conducted recruitment exercise for healthcare personnel was boycotted by doctors due to lower remuneration compared to other states.
According to the party, Ondo’s entry level for doctors is Grade Level 12 Step 3, unlike the Federal Government’s approved Grade Level 13 Step 2, which has been adopted by other states.
“Doctors employed by the state are migrating to neighbouring states like Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, and Kwara, which offer better conditions of service, despite Ondo being financially stronger than most of these states,” Peretei added.
In response, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers, a pro-APC group, dismissed the PDP’s allegations as baseless and politically motivated.
The group argued that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration had made significant improvements in the health sector.
In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kayode Fasua, the group said, “The PDP is resorting to fabricating lies against Governor Aiyedatiwa, who has been praised for his outstanding performance in healthcare.
“The governor launched an enhanced healthcare scheme across the state, greatly subsidizing healthcare delivery.”
The group also pointed out that the current shortage of doctors was not unique to Ondo State, but rather a nationwide issue.
“To address the challenge, the administration has embarked on a massive recruitment of health workers, particularly doctors and other medical personnel. The PDP’s falsehoods are nothing more than an attempt to gain attention,” Fasua stated.
The clash between the PDP and APC comes less than 50 days before the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for November 16, 2024, by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Punch
