The Medical Guild, representing doctors employed by the Lagos State Government, has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene in a series of long-standing welfare and infrastructure challenges that are undermining healthcare delivery in the state.

Speaking ahead of the Guild’s 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, Chairman Dr. Moruf Abdulsalam highlighted persistent issues, including the incomplete Doctors’ Quarters in Odan and residents’ quarters at LASUTH, Ikeja. He said the prolonged neglect has affected the welfare and morale of doctors across the state.

Dr. Abdulsalam also raised concerns over policies and practices he described as detrimental to doctors’ well-being, including:

• The enforcement of an extended bonding policy.
• Demotion of specialist consultants due to administrative entry errors.
• Non-payment of teaching allowances to Level 12 medical officers.
• Failure to deduct contributory pensions and NHF for resident doctors as required by law.
• The absence of a comprehensive health insurance scheme for medical staff.

He recalled the preventable elevator accident at Odan General Hospital in August 2023, which resulted in the death of a doctor, noting that over two years later, a lasting solution has yet to be provided.

According to Dr. Abdulsalam, these unresolved issues have discouraged doctors from participating in in-service training programs, exacerbating the shortage of specialists and straining existing healthcare personnel.

The conference, themed “The No-Bed Conundrum and Safe Referral: Exploring an Integrated and Effective Referral System in Lagos,” aims to evaluate factors limiting access to quality care and promote better coordination among healthcare institutions. A sub-theme, “Workplace Situational Awareness Among Doctors,” is designed to help medical professionals manage difficult patient interactions and prevent workplace crises.

Despite the challenges, the Guild noted achievements during Dr. Abdulsalam’s tenure, including timely payment of revised CONMESS and arrears, registration of the Guild as a corporate entity, and acquisition of land and housing allocations for members.

The Guild also reiterated support for the ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), urging the Federal Government to meet NARD’s 19-point demands promptly.

Dr. Abdulsalam praised the THEMES+ agenda for its efforts to reposition healthcare in Lagos and reaffirmed the Guild’s commitment to collaborating with the government to enhance medical service delivery.