Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu, has approved a 100 percent salary increase for medical doctors in the state as part of a broad package of reforms aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving the welfare of health professionals.
The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, during a media briefing in Calabar, where he outlined several major interventions recently approved by the governor for the health sector.
According to Ayuk, the administration has not only doubled doctors' salaries but has also increased budgetary allocation to the health sector by more than 100 percent. The government has equally lifted the embargo on employment in the health sector and approved the recruitment of over 2,000 additional health workers to address manpower shortages across public health facilities.
The commissioner disclosed that Governor Otu also approved enhanced allowances for other categories of health personnel and facilitated the establishment of the Cross River State Hospital Management Board to strengthen the administration and management of government-owned hospitals.
As part of efforts to upgrade healthcare infrastructure, the state government has released funds for the renovation of General Hospital, Ukem, and Cottage Hospital, Oban. Civil works are also set to commence at the abandoned General Hospital complex in Akpabuyo, which has remained dormant for years.
Ayuk explained that the projects form part of the administration's wider strategy to revitalize healthcare institutions and improve access to quality medical services for residents in both urban and rural communities.
He noted that the latest intervention follows the successful rehabilitation of more than 100 primary healthcare centres across the state within the last two years, describing the achievement as evidence of the government's commitment to rebuilding the healthcare system from the grassroots.
The commissioner dismissed criticisms suggesting that the state government was neglecting the health sector, insisting that the numerous investments and reforms introduced under the Otu administration demonstrate a clear commitment to healthcare development.
He maintained that the recruitment of thousands of health workers, improved remuneration for doctors and other personnel, increased sector funding, establishment of the Hospital Management Board, and ongoing hospital renovation projects collectively reflect an administration focused on transforming healthcare services across Cross River State.
The government reiterated its commitment to sustaining investments in healthcare infrastructure, manpower development, and service delivery as part of its broader objective of improving the quality of life of Cross River residents.
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