LUTH decries staff shortage, power woes despite infrastructure gains

The Chief Medical Director of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Professor Wasiu Adeyemo, has raised serious concerns over the dwindling number of healthcare professionals at the institution, attributing the decline to uncompetitive salaries and migration to state-owned and private hospitals within Lagos and abroad.

Speaking during an oversight visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Health, Adeyemo said that although government investments in healthcare infrastructure had significantly improved over the past few years, staffing shortages continue to hamper service delivery.

He warned that staffing gaps, especially among nurses and resident doctors, are hindering service delivery.

“Government has spent a lot on infrastructure, and it’s visible. LUTH today is not what it was four or five years ago, but it’s an irony. We have modernized wards and we can’t fully operate because we lack personnel,” he said.

According to him, many health workers now prefer to take jobs in Lagos State-owned hospitals or travel abroad due to better remuneration and opportunities.

Adeyemo explained that the Lagos State salary can be up to N120,000 higher than federal institutions like LUTH.

Adeyemo noted that during a recent recruitment exercise, only 50 percent of the approved nurses actually reported for duty. “We’re losing both to internal migration and international opportunities,” he said.

He also pointed to financial challenges, revealing that while LUTH spends over N147 million monthly on electricity, its overhead allocation is still stuck at N27 million per month, barely enough to sustain operations.

“Although the 2024 budget increased our allocation to N50 million monthly, we’ve only received the old amount. Power providers give us just seven days to pay bills or get disconnected. It’s a constant struggle,” he lamented.

Despite the operational challenges, Adeyemo praised the National Assembly for its role in increasing capital funding, which has allowed the hospital to expand facilities and procure essential equipment.

He cited the hospital’s cancer center as one of the most advanced in West Africa.

However, he stressed that these improvements would amount to little if the hospital cannot retain skilled professionals.

Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Patrick Umoh, expressed deep concern over the exodus of healthcare workers, describing the situation as tragic. “It breaks my heart to read that our professionals are migrating en masse, sometimes to countries with weaker economies, just to survive,” he said.

Umoh called on all stakeholders to take collective responsibility. “From the CMD to the janitor, everyone has a role to play. If each of us does our part, we can fix the system. Oversight visits like this are not just about inspection. They’re about identifying gaps and working together to fill them.”

He commended the ongoing projects at LUTH and promised that the legislature would continue to support the hospital. “Your progress is a clear testament that the government is committed to healthcare. But there is more to be done, and we will play our part,” he assured.