Following the rising cases of rejection of patients in many hospitals across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has given Chief Medical Director (CMDs) and Medical Directors (MDs) of government owned tertiary hospitals what can be described as a marching order to ensure that no patient is denied attention in their facilities.
He specifically warned the CMDs and MDs that, “we shall hold each personally accountable for the outcomes emanating from your hospitals.”
Ehanire, who was visibly not happy with the development, gave the warning at the joint meeting of Ministers of Health and FCT with Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of government hospitals in FCT catchment area, on Thursday.
In order to scale up the testing and ensure timely release of COVID-19 results, the Minister has directed that a side laboratory for GeneXpert COVID-19 diagnostic machines which deliver results within one hour be deployed and activated at the National Hospital, Abuja and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, to cut down waiting time.
He also directed that basic diagnostic side laboratories be set up at the emergency centers of major hospitals across the FCT.
“I appeal to all of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors, who, we have specifically invited here today for this message, that we shall hold each personally accountable for the outcomes emanating from your hospitals.
“No emergency should be denied attention, even if it means admitting on a stretcher or examination couch to give life saving oxygen.
“We have been assured by the Nigeria Air Force that they will supply us oxygen when the need arises.
“You are to kindly ensure that patients are attended to with dignity and dispatch, in the spirit in which the Hon Minister of FCT and I have spoken,” the Minister reiterated.
While appealing to the conscience of the CMDs and MDs, Ehanire said: “We have gathered here today to address a matter that is becoming a serious and unhappy concern to society at large.
“I am talking of the frequency of reports of very sick persons being rejected and abandoned by our hospitals.
“Many people have died having been denied attention in hospitals, or told there is no bed, often after they have made marathon journeys from one hospital to the other in search of help.
“This is unethical and unacceptable, we cannot afford to continue to lose so many of our people, who have, in fact, found their way to a hospital, only to lose their lives to health conditions, some of which could have been cured.
“We know that not all emergencies are COVID and we know that our professional oaths oblige us to save lives and do something for those who come to us for help.”
Speaking, the Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Bello, applauded the health workers in the FCT for their efforts in providing services to patients before and during the COVID-19 period.
He lamented that the COVID-19 cases are rising in the FCT following the community transmission of the disease.
He assured that the FCT administration is determined to bring the figure down, expressing optimism that with the support of the Minister of Health with his team, things will soon change.