Despite clear evidence of management directive for immediate implementation of the policy, the management of the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadanhas denied the addition of the N1,000 daily electricity fee to the service charge of patients admitted to hospital.
The hospital, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, said the circular approving the fee addition was “an internal memorandum” that the university teaching hospital did not implement.
Signed by the hospital’s public relations officer, Toye Akinrinola, the hospital said the statement has since been withdrawn.
The latest statement further stated that there was no time when the hospital charged such a fee, adding that the hospital will continue to treat patients regardless of their condition.
The statement read in part: “The management of University College Hospital, Ibadan has drawn attention to a post in all sections of the media alleging that the hospital is charging N1,000.00 per patient per day for electricity.
“The hospital wishes to state that the referenced memorandum was an internal memorandum that we did not implement after a thorough review of internal mechanisms for such issues and has since been withdrawn. At no time did the hospital charge an electricity fee.
“The hospital administration does not forget the fact that such a publication could have a negative effect on our patients, we are assuring the public that we will continue to provide effective and efficient medical care to Nigerians, regardless of their status.”
Meanwhile, management had earlier confirmed the development and insider sources said patients paid N1,000 each on Monday, July 4, 2022.
Previous hospital reaction
When PREMIUM TIMES visited the hospital, an official from the works department, who requested anonymity for fear of penalty, explained that the hospital is currently operating at “a huge loss” and had to improvise by adding N1,000 to the service charge for the patients. .
The source added that the hospital receives between N50 and N60 million in electricity bills every month from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
“You are aware that diesel is very expensive as we have to rely on public power supply and then the bill from our electricity distributor, IBEDC, is now also very high.”
“We receive between N50 and N60 million naira every month here and this is not a corporate organization, we are serving humanity. So since we can’t keep that bill, we had to look for ways to be sustainable,” the source said.
“The more power we have, the higher the bill,” the official added, noting that often the hospital experiences a recurring power outage and is forced to run generator sets for hours.
The source also stressed that the hospital cannot afford a total blackout “due to emergency units that need constant power and water supply.”
A non-clinical staff member, who also requested anonymity, confirmed that patients had started paying fees as of Monday, July 4, 2022.
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“Patients paid and even complained that after collecting N1,000 they didn’t restore power until later in the afternoon, around 1:00 pm,” he said.
diesel donation
Also when contacted, the public relations officer noted that “there is more to the development than is being circulated.”
He added that some well-meaning Nigerians have started donating diesel to support the hospital.
On June 4, 2022, the hospital received the donation of 1,000 liters from Lanre Laoshe, a former member of the Nigerian House of Representatives.
Mr. Laoshe said that he was concerned about the addition of N1,000 for electricity to patients’ service charges.
The hospital, in a post on its official Facebook page, thanked the donor for the gesture.
Mr. Akinrinola also told PREMIUM TIMES that the hospital is experiencing a recurring power outage from the IBEDC as he has to run generator sets for hours.
“We need diesel. Nigerians should focus on helping us instead of punishing us for the N1,000 electricity fee.
“IBEDC is also having internal problems that are affecting us here, so we need more diesel.
“Everyone should emulate Mr. Lanre Laoshe, who called the Lagos hospital in solidarity with UCH for the current power problem and then promised 1,000 liters of diesel as his contribution.
“Interestingly, around 5 pm on Monday, July 4, 2022, the promised diesel was delivered to the hospital,” Akinrinola said.