The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said the State needs additional 150 health workers in the junior cadre to reduce the acute shortage of manpower in the state-owned hospitals.

The governor disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the National Physicians’ week of the NMA in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Abiodun said he has given approval to all state-owned hospitals to commence the recruitment of 20 consultant doctors as a way of addressing manpower shortage.

The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, said the recruitment was necessary to reduce the shortage of manpower and also boost healthcare delivery in the state.

Abiodun added that he has also approved the regularisation of payment of appropriate remuneration for all doctors working in state-owned hospitals.

He disclosed that the state would commence the implementation of the appropriate remuneration to state doctors by the end of October.

The governor said, “Every reasonable and responsive government must ensure an enduring policy on health because of its direct link to the sustenance of the economy.

“What has been requested now is that we still have 150 health workers at that level to be taken care of.”

The State Chairman of NMA, Dr Oladayo Ogunlaja had in September threatened to shut down the medical sector in the state following “inappropriate remuneration and short-changing of the medical doctors” in the employ of the state.

Speaking with journalists at the National Physicians’ week of the NMA in Abeokuta, the state capital, Ogunlaja confirmed the approval of the pay regularisation.

Ogunlaja said, “The government has graciously approved the appropriate remuneration for all the doctors working with Ogun State Government.

“That means what the Federal government pays its doctors in FMC and other teaching hospitals is the same salary the Ogun State government has promised to pay now.”