The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has criticized Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the deteriorating condition of the state’s health sector, blaming the exodus of medical doctors for its collapse. In a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, the PDP claimed that the healthcare system has completely broken down under the governor’s administration.
Peretei attributed the crisis to the shortage of medical doctors, who are reportedly leaving the state due to poor working conditions, including issues with promotions and the non-implementation of a new salary structure. He noted that the doctors remaining in the state are overworked, further stressing an already stretched healthcare system.
Peretei lamented that Ondo State, which used to be a medical tourism destination in the South West, can no longer boast of that reputation. He also highlighted the severe impact of the crisis on rural areas, where access to healthcare has become increasingly limited.
The PDP urged the state government to address the healthcare crisis by hiring more doctors and improving working conditions to prevent further loss of medical personnel. They also called on the government to upgrade facilities and ensure the availability of medical equipment and drugs in hospitals across the state.
In February, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had served Governor Aiyedatiwa a seven-day notice before a strike, pointing to the dire state of the healthcare sector in Ondo State as a critical issue.