I don’t know whether the title of this piece should be classified as a warning or an advice, for the reason that everything in the capital city of this abundantly blessed country, Nigeria, has become untouchable, even by those that have been branded middle-class citizens. As a matter of fact, citizens of the country, in general，have currently reached a stage in their lives in which they are not really sure where they are headed. I’m talking about the economic situation; their purchasing power has obviously nose-dived into nothingness and made them look like orphans.
Since the federal government under President Bola Tinubu began its socio economic reforms immediately on taking over the power in May 2023, things have practical changed from good to bad and worse, and headed to worst. And the music that has continued to be played out at every oppotuned time is “things would get better soon.”
It is however hard to believe that medical system would be so affected by the worsening purchasing power to the point where the poor and even not-so-poor are virtually boxed to the corner.
Indeed, the worst thing that can happen to many Nigerians and which unfortunately is happening now, apart from hunger that has become the defining factor in their lives, is to fall sick, especially in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This is against the backdrop of the policy of the Administration to hike consultation and other medical fees in general hospitals.
What is happening now is that a patient who goes to a general hospital for medical attention would have to obtain hospital card with N2,600 and pay consultantion fee of N1,500 for doctor to listen to him.
If such patient is unlucky to be placed on admission, he is expected to pay the sum of N12,000 for a bed, not a room in a lodge, for a minimum of (compulsory) four nights. This is aside from medical or laboratory tests, drugs that he has to buy and many others.
It looks strange that the Government’s general hospitals that used to treat patients with very low and affordable cost are now competing with private hospitals, to the point that the poor ones in our midst, who happen to fall sick are simply being told, Willy nilly, to quietly die in their homes. These are the people who even before the present economic hardships via Government’s reforms, could not afford three good square meals a day.
With children school fees to be paid, with many mouths to feed everyday and other financial commitments, and with slave-like incomes, where would an average civil servant get the money to go to the government hospital for treatment of say, minor ailment?
It is not surprising if very soon, the general hospitals will be empty of patients with traditional healers taking over their responsibilities to the poor ones，or deaths rising against the background of inability to fund their treatment in the hospital.
There doesn’t seem to be any reason to increase Doctors’ consultation fees and bed fees in the hospital designated as general, if really such hospital is meant to take the financial burden off the shoulders of the people.
The government at all levels need to be seen to be there to cussion the effects of excruciating living for the people and not squeezing them to death through uncountable taxes, levies, increased costs in what they are supposed to enjoy as bonafide citizens of the country.
My honest advice therefore is that until government finds it benevolent to remove or reduce the fees in the general hospitals, people should try, please try not to fall sick.
