Medical Practitioners Lament Recession: “Doctors Live In Nigeria, Not Mars”

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Both Private and Public Health centers are having  major troubles due to the economic  recession.

The recent development  in hospitals,  pharmacies, and health  centers, can be linked to the current  hardship  in the country.

Observations show that major surgeries  as well as the price of drugs in many hospitals,  especially  private owned ones,  had increased significantly.

The doctors,  attributed  this increase to the cost of the medical supplies going up.

According to the Punch,  the medical director of Lighthouse hospital, Dr Segundo Adeniran, confirmed the increment. 

The importation of medical equipment,  the overhead  running of the  hospital has equally doubled with the inflation and recent hike in fuel price.

Adeniran said, “We used to charge N100,000 for emergency Caesarean Section but it is now N150,000. I was shocked when I travelled to Lagos the other day to buy some consumables for the hospital and I found out that their prices had changed. In fact, I could only buy half of what I needed. It was that bad.

“Even the doctor that assists me with the surgery has asked for an increment. The price of the anaesthesia for patients during surgeries has shot up.  It is either I increase the price or I shut down my facility.”

Another doctor, Ahmed Jubril, said he “adjusted” the fees he charged at his Ikorodu, Lagos clinic, in line with the current economic reality in the country.

Jubril added that with the recession in the country, many hospitals owners would find it difficult bear the cost of providing services to the public.

Jubril, also stated,  despite his indecision in making increment,  he had to do so,  inorder to keep the business  afloat.

He explained, “I spend an average of N200,000 buying  fuel each month. It used to be N100,000. You must turn on the generator for patients because if anything happens while they are on admission, you can be found liable.

“This is aside from the cost of maintaining the laboratory equipment and buying consumables. Right now, I owe the pharmacist that supplies drugs to my hospital. So, if a patient comes to treat cerebral malaria, I should bear the cost of the injections and drugs that have gone up. People must remember that doctors also live in Nigeria, not Mars.”

This section of the workforce in Nigeria are highly affected,  as the people rely on health facilities  for survival.

 

 

 

 

 

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