The Management of the FUTA Teaching Hospital has reacted to the temporary shutdown of laboratory services at the institution, assuring patients and stakeholders that efforts are underway to sustain healthcare delivery despite ongoing industrial action.

In a statement issued by the hospital’s Public Relations Unit, the management said it was deeply concerned about disruptions caused by what it described as an illegal industrial action embarked upon by some members of the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP).

The hospital stressed that patient welfare remains its highest priority, noting that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that essential services continue despite the strike.

According to the statement, the industrial action has severely affected both routine and emergency laboratory services, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment decisions for patients receiving care at the facility.

It further explained that the situation has forced some patients to seek laboratory investigations outside the hospital, thereby increasing their financial burden and causing logistical challenges.

Management expressed regret over the inconvenience and distress caused to patients and their families, adding that contingency plans have been activated to reduce disruption across clinical departments.

The hospital maintained that all administrative actions taken by management were in line with extant public service rules, government circulars, and approved operational guidelines, insisting they were aimed at improving efficiency and governance.

It also disclosed that previous engagements with union representatives had produced 23 mutually agreed resolutions aimed at strengthening industrial harmony and enhancing healthcare delivery, adding that the agreements remain valid.

On security concerns, the management clarified that its directive requiring staff to submit office and access keys during periods of industrial action was not punitive, but a long-standing administrative measure designed to protect hospital property and sensitive equipment.

The hospital said past experiences during industrial disputes had recorded incidents of theft and unauthorized removal of property, making preventive safeguards necessary in the public interest.

While calling for calm, the management urged NUAHP leadership to prioritise patient welfare and reconsider actions that hinder critical healthcare services.

It reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining essential medical services through alternative arrangements and promised continued updates to staff, patients, and the general public as developments unfold.

The statement concluded with an appeal for understanding, as the hospital reiterated its resolve to uphold quality healthcare delivery, institutional accountability, and industrial peace.