The Chairman, Oyo State Hospital Management Board (OYSHMB), Dr. Akin Fagbemi, has charged the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Chapter, to collaborate with the state government in addressing the shortage of medical personnel by helping to provide qualified doctors for recruitment.
Dr. Fagbemi made this call while reacting to a sponsored publication by the Oyo State chapter of the NMA alleging a shortage of medical doctors in government hospitals across the state.
“We are urging the Nigerian Medical Association to partner with the Oyo State Hospital Management Board by helping to identify and recommend more doctors for recruitment. The government is ready to engage qualified medical professionals as part of its continuous efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state,”
Dr. Fagbemi said.
He disclosed that the Oyo State Government, under the leadership of Governor ’Seyi Makinde, has continued to prioritize healthcare staffing and infrastructure development.
According to him, the state has recently recruited ophthalmologists, medical officers, and other categories of health professionals for exit replacement and expansion.
“We have just renovated the State Hospital, Saki, and recently engaged more consultants across various state hospitals,”
he added.
Dr. Fagbemi further explained that many doctors earlier recruited by the current administration have been redeployed to the Primary Health Care Board, which remains under the employment of the Oyo State Government, while some have proceeded for residency training at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
He emphasized that the alleged shortage of doctors was being exaggerated, noting that the challenge is not unique to Oyo State but a national phenomenon affecting several states across Nigeria.
“Under Governor Makinde, Oyo State has done exceptionally well in maintaining stable healthcare delivery.
“Over 5,000 healthcare workers have been recruited in the past six years across both the primary healthcare system and the Hospital Management Board,”
Dr. Fagbemi stated.
He highlighted that several rural and semi-urban health facilities in communities such as Okaka, Iresa-Adu, Ikoyi-Ile, Sepeteri, Lanlate, Ayete, Igbeti, Igboho, Iwere-Ile, Iseyin, Ago-Amodu, Ago-Are, Lagun, Eruwa, and Igboora are fully functional, adding that doctors are deployed to these areas as the need arises.
Dr. Fagbemi also revealed that the Hospital Management Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 13 consultants from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to provide specialized services in Oyo State hospitals.
He further mentioned the Board’s ongoing collaboration with Lead City University to expand the training of medical students and ensure a long-term supply of qualified doctors for the state.
“Our partnership with Lead City University is already yielding positive results in the long-term development of human resources for health. We are committed to building a sustainable healthcare workforce,”
he affirmed.
Dr. Fagbemi reassured residents that the Oyo State Government remains committed to maintaining efficient and sustainable healthcare delivery.
“The situation is not as severe as portrayed by the NMA. We have maintained steady recruitment and exit replacement to ensure no gap in service delivery.
The government is open to genuine partnership with all stakeholders, including the NMA, to achieve our shared goal of quality healthcare for all,” Dr. Fagbemi said.
