FG to sanction FMC Abeokuta officials over alleged unprofessional conduct

The Federal Government has commenced a comprehensive review of complaints alleging unprofessional conduct, dereliction of duty and illegal collection of levies by some officials of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, with a warning that anyone found culpable will be sanctioned.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako, disclosed this on Friday at the flag-off and distribution of Advanced Life Support (ALS), Basic Life Support (BLS) and tricycle ambulances to selected health facilities in Ogun State under the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS).

Salako, who said his office had received several complaints in recent months and also encountered media reports on alleged unprofessional practices at the FMC, said the allegations would receive the attention of the ministry.

“Unfortunately, in the last few months, my office has been inundated with several complaints and has also come across some reports in the media that alleged unprofessional practices, dereliction of duty and illegal collection of levies against some officials of this centre,” he said.

He added that anyone found culpable after investigation would be sanctioned in accordance with the Civil Service Rules, stressing that the measure was necessary to sustain public confidence in the hospital.

The minister, however, commended health workers who continued to discharge their duties diligently and maintain high ethical standards.

“When patients visit or are brought to our hospital, the minimum they expect from us is professional medical care, support, clear communication and respectful treatment,” Salako said.

He assured diligent health workers that their efforts would not go unrewarded, urging them to maintain professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Earlier, Salako said the Federal Government had acquired 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances, 15 BLS ambulances and 79 ALS ambulances, alongside laptops, printers and communication devices, as part of the first phase of efforts to strengthen emergency medical services nationwide.

Ogun State, he said, received three ALS ambulances, one BLS ambulance and nine tricycle ambulances for deployment to Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital and selected high-volume, remote secondary and primary healthcare facilities.

He said the intervention was designed to move emergency care beyond the provision of ambulances to a coordinated system linking transportation, trained personnel, communication, referral pathways and definitive hospital treatment.

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According to him, emergency medical services remain critical to reducing preventable deaths and disabilities arising from road crashes, obstetric emergencies, strokes, heart attacks, drowning and industrial accidents.

The minister also disclosed that under the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, NEMSAS had supported more than 48,000 women to access free emergency obstetric care and more than 4,000 women to receive free caesarean sections in NHIA-empanelled facilities.

He said the intervention had contributed to a 17 per cent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 per cent reduction in newborn deaths across 172 high-burden local government areas.

Salako said the success of the ambulance programme would depend on proper deployment, maintenance, trained personnel, monitoring and accountability by state and local authorities.

He warned beneficiary facilities against abusing the ambulances, stressing that they must be used strictly for emergency medical services.

“Let me emphasise that these ambulances are not hearses for moving corpses or for going to the market to purchase goods, including drugs and other hospital consumables,” he said.

He urged the Ogun State Government and beneficiary facilities to provide complementary funding for operations and maintenance to ensure that the vehicles remained functional and available when emergencies occur.

Salako further said the Federal Government was working towards addressing the fragmented regulatory framework governing first responders and emergency management in the country, in collaboration with the National Assembly.

He said NEMSAS would continue to work with relevant federal agencies, state governments, private sector operators, security agencies, health facilities and emergency workers to develop a unified system connecting emergency dispatch, pre-hospital care, transportation and receiving hospitals.

He said the ultimate objective was to establish an emergency medical system that was accessible, responsive, coordinated, equitable, resilient and sustainable across Nigeria.