The Medical Guild says the House Officers’ Quarters at General Hospital Odan, Lagos, should only be declared fit for occupation after appropriate safety inspections and independent verification.

The guild’s chairman, Oluwole Olusanya, said this at a news conference on Monday, as part of activities marking the Guild’s centenary of healthcare delivery.

“We do not believe that a facility should be declared ready for occupation simply because construction or renovation has been completed. Safety must be independently verified, not merely assumed.

“Going forward, we advocate a comprehensive approach that includes structural and engineering assessments, certification of relevant installations, particularly lifts and other critical systems, a sustainable maintenance plan, and clear accountability for facility management,” he said.

Mr Olusanya said the condition of the quarters remained a significant institutional issue requiring continued attention, following the tragic lift collapse that claimed the life of Vwaere Diaso.

Ms Diaso, a medical house officer at General Hospital, Odan, died on August 1, 2023, from injuries sustained when the elevator she was in crashed from the 10th floor of the medical officers’ quarters.

Mr Olusanya said her death remained a painful reminder of the risks healthcare workers could face beyond the clinical environment in which they served.

He emphasised that the guild had consistently maintained that doctors’ welfare must extend beyond salaries and allowances.

“Safe accommodation, functional infrastructure, reliable utilities, and an environment conducive to rest and recovery are essential components of healthcare workforce welfare,” he said.

Mr Olusanya said the guild would continue engaging relevant authorities for verified updates on the scope of rehabilitation, work completed, outstanding requirements and the expected timeline for safe occupation.

He acknowledged progress in engagements with the state government, particularly the harmonisation and implementation of revised professional and specialist allowances.

Mr Olusanya, however, expressed concern over outstanding payments, implementation gaps and discrepancies affecting eligible categories of doctors.

The chairman urged relevant government agencies to expedite the reconciliation and payment of arrears, resolve administrative inconsistencies, and ensure all eligible medical and dental practitioners received their approved entitlements.

He also called for improved residential accommodation for doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), emphasising that suitable accommodation for doctors was not a luxury.

The chairman said the guild would sustain engagements with government and healthcare institutions to address staffing pressures, infrastructure deficiencies and other challenges affecting service delivery.

Mr Olusanya reaffirmed the guild’s commitment to advocating policies that improve doctors’ well-being while advancing the interests of patients and the public.

On the centenary programme, Mr Olusanya said activities already undertaken included medical outreaches, hospital visits, institutional engagements and sporting activities.

He announced that the Guild’s Centenary Opening Ceremony and Scientific Conference would be held on October 27, with the theme “100 Years of Healthcare Delivery: Celebrating the Past, Transforming the Present, Shaping the Future.”

The Medical Guild, founded in 1926, is the umbrella body for medical and dental practitioners employed by the Lagos State government across primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

(NAN)