… Hospital may lose billions of naira worth high-tech equipment
… FCT administration calls for calm
By Hassan Zaggi
Over 900 medical and health workers at the Garki Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will be out of jobs on April 1, 2022, if prominent and well-meaning Nigerians fail to intervene.
This is as a result of the expiration of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between the NISA Premier- the current managers of Garki hospital, and the FCT Administration.
The medical and health workers include 21 Consultants, 113 medical doctors, 24 House Officers, 159 nurses, 96 patient care attendants, pharmacists, medical record officers, laboratory scientists and other technicians.
The FCT administration on March 1, 2022 gave the hospital management notice to vacate and hand over the facility to them on April 1, 2022.
Investigation by THE AUTHORITY revealed that workers in the hospital are in low spirit as they are not sure what will be their fate in the next few days.
It would be recalled that the concession agreement for the PPP was signed between the NISA Premier and the FCT administration in 2007 which was to last for 15 years.
After the agreement was signed, the FCT administration handed over the then Garki General Hospital to NISA Premier which it re- equipped from the scratch.
Currently, all equipment in the hospital are owned by NISA Premier.
Findings from reliable source at the hospital indicated that the management of the hospital had written three letters to the FCT administration appealing for a review of the concession agreement but it did not get any respond until on March 1 when the FCT administration wrote a letter informing of its intention to take over the facility.
Our findings showed that if the FCT Administration insists on taking over the hospital, apart from the displacement of over 3000 patients with different health conditions, many high sensitive expensive world-class equipment will be damaged because they needed a much longer time to be re-caliberated before removal.
Reacting to the directive by the FCT Administration for the NISA Premier to vacate the facility, the Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), FCT Chapter, Dr. Enema Amodu, expressed concern over the short notice and called on the FCT administration to rethink its decision for the sake of the over 900 workers of the hospital and patients who are on long term intensive care.
He suggested that, if the FCT administration will not consider it appropriate to renew the concession agreement, then it should give the hospital management, at least, 12 months for it to plan and vacate the premises.
According to him: “Apart from the over the 900 workers, there are patients that are on long term intensive care, This category of patients will require suitable arrangements so that they continue to receiving life-saving medications.
“There are several medical doctors, pharmacists, and nurses receiving postgraduate residency trainings and other House Officers. They need time for them to complete their trainings or have an alternative for them to continue without disruption. One month is too short for all these to happen.
“Also, there are staff who are residing in quarters within the premises, giving them one month to vacate and secure accommodations elsewhere in the current harsh economy the country is passing through, is not fair enough.
“Remember that the hospital has a lot of sensitive ICT equipment, how do you expect such equipment to be removed in a hurry and not be damaged? This will cost the hospital billions of naira.
“It is important we appreciate the standard and level of health care services Garki hospital under the current PPP arrangement has provided to residents of the FCT and reward them by extending the agreement.
“I am appealing that the FCT administration will take a look at the chain of effect their decision will cause and consider renewing the concession agreement.”
Responding to questions from our Correspondent, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and strategic communication, to the Minister of the FCT, Malam Abubakar Sani, called for calm because, according to him, there is no any crisis between the FCT administration and the management of NISA Premier.
He explained that the relationship between the hospital management and the FCT administration is like a tenant and his landlord which will be resolved amicably.
“There is no cause for panic because there is no crisis between the management of the hospital and the FCT administration.
“I understand the hospital is discussing with the FCT Administration following the expiration of the concession agreement. When they finally agree, a technical team will be set up to look at areas that needed review.
“I, therefore, insist that there is no cause for worry by anyone because both parties are not in any crisis. We need the services of the hospital for our people, hence, no need for panic.”
