Anambra State Ministry of Health has suspended the salaries of a medical doctor and two nurses caught diverting patients from government-owned hospitals, Ekwulobia General Hospitals, and Aguata Local Government Area of the State.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, expressed his disappointment in the attitude of the healthcare workers for their inhumane treatment of patients, stressing that those involved will not receive salaries until further notice.
Dr Obidike cautioned that the administration of Governor Charles Soludo will not tolerate such behaviour going forward.
He explained that the government’s intention in establishing hospitals is not to make a profit but rather to render quality and affordable care to the public while ensuring universal health coverage in the state.
“Those involved will also face the full extant law of the civil service, and I feel so sad to discover that healthcare workers are behaving badly and are no longer upholding the ethics that guide their profession.
“Let me make it public now that we have a task force that monitors the activities and engages patients for their feedback regarding satisfaction with services rendered.
“That being said, we have been able to discover those sabotaging government efforts in the repositioning of our hospitals for optimal healthcare delivery service to the people.
“We will continue to fish them out one by one, and we don’t act on hearsay but with evidence,” Dr. Obidike said.
He urged the public to call the following numbers:
09063227856
08035657865
08036681476
“Please, if you are not satisfied with the services rendered in all the government-owned health facilities across the state, call the listed numbers above.”
State Hospital Administrator, Dr. Frank Ifeanaeme, confirmed that the healthcare workers actually committed an offence by diverting patients to private hospitals.
“For me, it is pure sabotage that they indulged themselves in this, and it is unprofessional.
Dr. Ifeanaeme said that their actions can never be justified; according to him, they are unacceptable under the civil service rule.
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