State House medical suffers from drug supply

Aso Rock, Abuja

Can this be a valid reflection of the state of the Nigerian economy regarding public health facilities? This report from the Punch newspapers challenges popular opinion and the reality of what just might be a situation to be considered.

As shocking and unbelievable as it sounds, the State House Medical Centre which provides medical services to the President, Vice-President and their families, aides, members of staff of the State House is dire need of drugs and other essential medical items Punch newspaper is reporting. Recall that the State House Medical Centre got N3.87bn allocated to it in the 2016 Appropriation Act. According to the report, patients were now being asked to go and buy drugs from outside as they were no longer available in the centre.

It was reported that kidney problems who are currently undergoing dialysis in the facility can no longer have their twice a week dialysis as the clinic has been cancelling their appointment. Text messages sent by the hospital to patients to buy medical items prove that the hospital is grounded.

“Mr. XXX (names withheld), when you are coming for dialysis on Monday, buy IVF Normal Saline to be used for ur (sic) dialysis. The office doesn’t have it. Buy like four pieces,” Punch quoted a text message sent by the hospital to a patient. Another patient said the centre’s management cancelled the session because of non-availability of bloodline.

“Gudevening (sic), we can’t dialize (sic) you tomorrow because we don’t have bloodline. When it is available, I will get back to you. Pls (sic) dialyse (sic) somewhere else. Thanks,” a message sent to him by the centre. 

The patient said the first time the session was cancelled, he was referred to a private hospital in Garki where he paid N20,000. “As a result of the stress I passed through, by the time I returned home, I was very weak. My health situation deteriorated midnight and my people rushed me to the hospital. I was discharged about three days after,” he said.

Other patients who spoke with the newspaper said the medical centre could no longer boast of “ordinary malaria drugs.” “The clinic does not even have ordinary paracetamol. Paracetamol was included in the list of drugs they asked me to go and buy recently. Before now, they were giving us drugs,” another patient said. The Nigerian government is yet to deny or confirm the report as the minister of health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, could not be reached. Meanwhile, governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Tuesday, August 16 donated office apartment and vehicles for proper take off of FG’s various intervention plans in the Sokoto