The Federal Government yesterday directed all public hospitals across
the country to save patients’ lives first during emergencies before
demanding money even as it blamed poor performance of the country’s
health system on chronic under funding.
Giving the directive during his first official visit to the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac
Adewole lamented that out of 30,000 Primary HealthCare Centres, PHCs,
across the country only 20 percent (6,000) are functional.
Adewole, who said government hospitals cannot continue to turn poor
patients away, however affirmed that lives of Nigerians mean more than
money.
“Accidents, among other emergency cases can occur at anytime, so
patients should not be refrained from accessing treatment. The poverty
indicator shows that 60 to 70 percent of Nigerians are poor. This means
about 100 million people are poor in Nigeria. So, we will provide basic
care through the PHC system for Nigerians.”
Adewole who directed the Management of LUTH not to allow patients
stay beyond 24 hours at the Accident and Emergency ward to enable room
for other new patients on emergency, decried the situation he met on
ground.
“What I saw this morning is congestion. When the A & E unit is
congested, that facility cannot absorb new cases. When emergency
happens, facilities must be able to respond adequately and promptly.
“This reminded me of a situation whereby if you have an accident,
LUTH will not be able to respond, and that was why I gave the directive
that they should operate a system that would evacuate patients within 24
hours.
Noting that the A & E is the face of any hospital, he said once
patients are treated, they should be moved to the ward or be discharge
if they are stable, in order to create space for new cases.
Vanguard
