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University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)

UBTH denies resident doctors’ allegation of mismanagement; as CMD alleges cabal after his job

University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)
University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)

AGENE GODWIN, Benin

The management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Edo State, Wednesday, described as ‘tissue of lies and malicious allegations of mismanagement and haemorrhage (fraud)’ allegations of mismanagement levelled against it by leadership of the hospital chapter of the Association of Resident Doctors in the state.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UBTH, Professor Michael Ibadin who stated this during a press conference in Benin, said the statement issued on November 24th this year by the ARD President of the UBTH, Dr. Omorogbe Owen was ‘the handwork of mischief makers and tribal elements who infiltrated gullible members of the association to discredit his administration.’

“The ultimate goal of the cabal masquerading as ARD executive and their sponsors is to cause the CMD to vacate the office using all means possible and also go ahead and incriminate him,” he said.

It would be recalled that resident doctors at the UBTH had in a statement personally signed by Dr. Omoregbe decried huge rot of facilities, alleged exploitation, corrupt practices and other sundry issues by the management of the hospital.

The executive of ARD also deplored what they tagged “the maladministration unleashed on staff and patients as well as the untold decadence that is malignantly eroding our institution meant to take care of the health needs of the citizenry” by the management.

However, reacting, Prof. Ibadin said “it is a war of attrition being sponsored by individuals among them consultants with tribal agenda who see themselves as inappropriately placed to succeed the current CMD”, adding that “the ARD President has unfortunately submitted himself as a tool for this cabal who has never hidden their disdain for the current management and will stop at nothing to rubbish the CMD.”

Ibadin denied the claim by the resident doctors that the hospital charges exorbitant fees and bills contrary to what obtains in similar health institutions across the country even as he stated that the management of the UBTH was versed in transparency, due process and accountability, particularly, now that the various institutions comply with the federal government’s single treasury accounts (TSA) system.

He added that all the facilities in the hospital are up to date while necessary accreditations of the various departments, staff welfare and promotion have been taken care of in line with the laid down rules of civil service.

According to him, “the shortage of staff is across board and not peculiar to resident doctors. The shortages are being addressed as interviews for nurses, resident doctors and other categories of staff have been held and presentations made to the budget office and other relevant government agencies for approval.”

He said the UBTH is reputed nationwide as one of the most functional teaching hospitals in Nigeria. The hospital runs virtually on generators almost 24 hours a day at astronomical cost to her finances. The radio-diagnostic units are about the best in Nigeria. Of course these machines and equipment do break down now and then, but the down times are infrequent and readily dealt with as they arise and as finances and expertise permit.”

Dr. Owen had said “With the present state and condition UBTH has been subjected to under this management, the previous centre of excellence and hospital of glory is now a shadow of its old self”

According to Omorogbe “despite being a government hospital, UBTH has the highest billings in    fees, admission deposit and costs for services in the country, the services provided cannot be compared with these unwarranted charges on unsuspecting Nigerians.”

He disclosed that patients at UBTH are made to pay N3, 900daily for the general wards after paying an admission deposit of N20, 000; bed fee for specialist ward at the cost of N15, 000 daily after an admission deposit of N50, 000 as against what obtains in other hospitals of the same status in the country.

He said even with the worsening economic situation in the country, the management insistence on extorting these high fees from patients who cannot afford them has forced many Nigerians to seek alternative care, which in effect has grossly affected the training of medical students and doctors with the declining as the patient load.

He also stated that, “Patients, especially those in and around Edo State and environs, are now forced to travel to parts of the country for medical care where services are affordable.”

“At Irrua Specialist Hospital   in Edo State and University College, Ibadan in Oyo State, bed fee is N1500 and N1000 per day respectively; the same is applicable to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital where bed fee is N1000 daily,” Dr. Omorogbe said.

On accreditation of department, the ARD boss pointed out that “several departments have lost their accreditation from supervising agencies.  As if that is not enough to send signals to management to sit up, just recently the department of pathology became the latest department to lose its accreditation.”

He lamented that “This particular setback is affecting both staff and patients as the predicament is affecting the training of both nurses and doctors” whose numbers are in short supply.

“Due to management’s inability to employ more hand in the face of gross exit of staff emanating from loss of departments, there is acute shortage of staff to cater for patients, stressing that “This obviously affects the quality of service being rendered to patients.”

Dr. Omorogbe stated that, “It is shocking to reveal that the last time resident doctors were employed in UBTH was in 2011 and in the intervening four- year period, over 400 resident doctors has exited without any replacement.”

“The hospital that was manned by over 150 house officers is currently covered by 60 house officers while a ward of over 50patients is being run by three nurses. One can then imagine the kind of care patients get from this shortage of staff.”

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