The Federal Government has announced a significant development in healthcare funding with the approval of a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals across the country. This decision aims to reduce operational costs for these facilities and alleviate financial pressures on patients.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed the new initiative in a statement on Thursday. He emphasized that the subsidy is part of broader efforts to enhance healthcare delivery and lower the expenses associated with hospital operations.
During a visit to the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, Dr. Alausa also inaugurated several key projects, including the Electronic Health Records system and an Alternative Power Supply at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex. Additionally, he launched a solarization project at the dialysis unit, which features a solar-powered borehole and a 10.2 KVA inverter with a lithium battery at the Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf COVID-19 Intervention Centre.
“We are going to change the names of our Federal Hospitals to Specialist Hospitals to expand care delivery and destigmatize hospitals so that everybody can come here,” Dr. Alausa announced. “While the core services will remain psychiatric, this re-naming will allow for the continuous expansion of services.”
Dr. Alausa expressed confidence in Dr. Aishatu Yusha’u Armiyau, the Chief Medical Director of the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital, and praised the institution’s achievements as a reflection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitments during his campaign.
At the National Eye Care Centre, Dr. Alausa inaugurated the Dr. G.O Adejor Optical Showroom and the Dr. M.B Alhassan Diagnostic and Laser Unit. He also addressed concerns about the ongoing warning strike by Resident Doctors, which has impacted efforts to secure the release of kidnapped physician Ganiyat Popoola from the hospital staff quarters. He urged for patience and reassured the hospital administration that the abducted doctor would be returned soon.
Dr. Alausa outlined plans to engage with medical professionals living abroad to address the significant migration of medical staff. Despite facing structural challenges, he affirmed that President Tinubu is actively working with state governments to improve Health Science Universities and increase annual health sciences enrollment from 24,000 to 100,000.
Earlier, Dr. Aminatu Abdulrahman, Acting Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, highlighted the centre’s longstanding role in providing specialized eye care services, training, and research opportunities since its establishment in 1979.
