UNIOSUN hospital workers threaten strike over proposed privatisation plan

Workers at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, UNIOSUNTH, have threatened to shut down the facility from Monday over a proposed Public-Private Partnership arrangement covering several medical and support services.

The threat followed a protest staged by members of the Joint Action Committee of unions at the teaching hospital in Osogbo on Thursday.

The unions said they were opposed to the proposed privatisation of services in departments including the laboratory, Intensive Care Unit, radiology, kitchen, morgue and security.

They warned that failure by the hospital management to address their concerns would trigger an indefinite strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the authorities.

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According to the unions, the ultimatum will expire at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, leaving Monday as the proposed commencement date for the industrial action.

Speaking during the protest, Olumide Faniran, an elder of the unions and a member of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, NANNM, said the workers were resisting an attempt to introduce the PPP without adequate consultation.

“Actually, the agitation is over a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, which the leadership of the Teaching Hospital is embarking on.

“When you are undertaking something of that nature, you carry stakeholders along. The reverse is the case here,” he said.

Faniran said the unions had met with management several days earlier and reached an understanding that the existing arrangement would remain pending further discussions.

He, however, alleged that management proceeded to interview prospective employees for a private laboratory despite the understanding reached at the meeting.

“We had a meeting with them a few days ago, where we agreed that the status quo should remain. But to our surprise, they conducted interviews yesterday for the intending workers they want to engage for the private laboratory,” he said.

The union representative questioned the need for a private laboratory when, according to him, the existing laboratory was generating more than 100 per cent revenue.

“Yes, they want to set up a private laboratory when we already have our own laboratory that is generating over 100 per cent revenue,” Faniran said.

He also accused the hospital management of blaming workers for shortages of laboratory consumables and reagents, arguing that the existing facility could perform better if adequately supplied.

The unions’ position hardened after a proposed meeting with the hospital’s governing board failed to take place as expected on Thursday.

Faniran said the workers had assembled for the meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. but were later informed around 2:30 p.m. that the board would not meet them and that they should submit their position in writing.

“This morning, we were told that we would have a meeting with the board by 10 a.m. We converged since 10 a.m., only to be told around 2:30 p.m. that they were not interested in seeing us,” he said.

He said the development prompted the unions to convene a congress, where members resolved to stage the peaceful protest.

Faniran said the unions wanted management to abandon the PPP proposal and instead strengthen the existing hospital services through the provision of necessary equipment, reagents and consumables.

“Our demand now is that we do not want Public-Private Partnership. Let us maximise the opportunity that is on ground. Provide reagents and consumables to us, and we are ready to work,” he said.

He warned that radiology, ICU, morgue, kitchen and security services were also affected by the proposed arrangement and reiterated that the unions would commence an indefinite strike if their demands were not met before the ultimatum expired.

“That is why we are now resisting. Radiology, ICU, Morgue, Kitchen and Security are all affected.

“If they fail to adhere to our demands, we have no option than to embark on strike on Monday because the 14-day ultimatum given earlier will expire by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday,” he said.

However, the Chairman of the Governing Board of UNIOSUNTH, Niyi Owolade, said the dispute would be resolved through discussions with the unions.

Owolade said the PPP arrangement was not an unusual model in Nigeria’s healthcare sector and disclosed that discussions on its implementation were still ongoing.

“We are meeting with the unions next week. The issue will be resolved next week,” he said.

He explained that the board reached its decision following approval from the Osun State Government, adding that discussions surrounding the partnership had not been concluded.

“The board came into the conclusion after an approval by the governor that we should have a Public Private Partnership and we have started the discussion but not yet completed the discussion,” Owolade said.

According to him, “PPP arrangements have already been introduced in some major hospitals, including facilities in Ife and Ibadan.

“This is not the first place where PPP will be implemented. They have started in Ife, Ibadan. Most teaching hospitals in Nigeria have PPP. There is no much ado about it,” he said.

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