Management of Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH) has denied allegations that the health institution charges exorbitant fees for medical services rendered to patients.
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Isah Yahaya Adagiri, said the allegations emanated from same fifth columnists that sponsored similar blackmails against previous leadership of the hospital.
Prof Adagiri explained that in the last two years, the management has not increased its medical charges, adding that the state government has been very supporting to ensure the hospital offers the people quality medical services at affordable charges.
He noted that aside over one billion Naira investment by the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello to overhaul infrastructures in the hospital, the state government has given approval to recruit new experienced doctors to replace those that left. This, he said, effectively punctured allegations made by the fifth columnists about dearth of medical personnel in the hospital.
Speaking on the allegation that the hospital had suffered low patronage of patients, Prof Adagiri said a casual stroll through the facility will prove the claims are untrue. He said the hospital is always busy and attending to numerous patients to seek medical attention.
“Kogi State Specialist Hospital is the most patient-friendly health institution in the state. Our services are at par with the Federal Teaching Hospital and in terms of staff welfare, no institution is doing better than we do here.
“The state government has been very supportive. When we raised the issue of departing medical doctors, the State Governor gave us approval to recruit new ones as replacement to ensure efficient service delivery at all times.
“In the last two years, we have not increased the charges for our services. We are here to serve the people, and the state government has been supporting the hospital.
“In fact, our hospital is the only medical facility that has a viable mortuary and it is very busy and well patronized. It is not a ghost hospital as erroneously and mischievously claimed by enemies of the hospital who have nothing to do and say other than pulling the hospital down,” he said.
He disclosed that some staff that were either dismissed or suspended for various offences have constituted themselves into a gang that has been sponsoring false publications against the hospital.
