The
Memorandum Of Understanding between the Government of Akwa Ibom State and the
management of Ibom Specialist Hospital is set to be reviewed.
This
follows a meeting between the Akwa Ibom State Government and the consulting
firm managing the top class health institution, Cardio Care Medical Services at
Government House.
The
new MoU is to enable the hospital function optimally by providing affordable
and best medical services to the people in line with the dream and vision
envisaged by the government in setting up the hospital.
The
State Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, speaking on on the alleged closure of the
hospital, expressed displeasure over the inability of the current hospital
management to keep to the demands of the MoU earlier signed.
He
said government did not renege on giving utmost support to the hospital when
the need arose, as peddled in some quarters.
The
Governor emphasized that, "immediately we took over in 2015, we released
$5m Take-off Working Capital, I repeat, 5 million dollars Takeoff Working
Capital”.
The
Governor said he later paid another 250 million naira on request by the
managers in addition to 1 billion naira paid in the last quarter of 2015 to the
hospital equipment suppliers. "Everything I have spent in this hospital, I
have full records" Governor Emmanuel stressed.
Similarly,
the initial payment of 50 million naira made to the hospital for the treatment
of those affected by the collapsed Reigners Bible Church building in 2016 was
to further attract 180 million naira.
During
the first quarter of 2017, the sum of 300 million naira was again paid to the
equipment suppliers by the Governor as well as salaries to some Consultants in
the hospital who, according to him, were not budgeted for.
"Most
of the Consultants were not paid, I discussed with Dr Yemi Johnson who
represents Cardio Care, I said ok, some of those best Consultants that we have,
I can pay them out of imprest in my office since they were not appropriated
for. I don't mind, I can surrender the imprest in my office so that those
people don't go. I have the vouchers of those releases on my imprest in my
office," the Governor explained.
Mr
Emmanuel said he had to provide the needed funds in good faith to ensure that
the hospital was still running but expressed surprise that when government
started reconciling issues, it was discovered that so many things were not
working in the hospital.
Mr
Emmanuel observed, "Cardio Care Medical Services had not prepared and
delivered to the state government a detailed statement of revenues received and
expenditures incurred and paid during the calendar year that results from the
operation of the property," contrary to the provisions of the MoU.
He
highlighted best practices that must be followed by those who venture into
asset management, especially those without equity contributions to the asset,
stressing that such standard practices become obligatory to the managers.
Governor
Emmanuel said he was surprised to read some media reports that the Ibom
Specialist Hospital was locked due to insensitivity of the state government.
He
dispelled such insinuations, noting that the issue had to do with the business content,
the doctrine and nature of managing the business in line with global best
practices.
The
State Chief Executive spoke in glowing terms about his predecessor saying that
the past administration did its utmost in establishing the quaternary hospital,
first of its kind in Africa adding that the cordiality of his relationship with
Senator Godswill Akpabio is superlative, contrary to media speculations.
"Let
people not just go to town, trying to cause problems. At times people just try
to link it with present administration and past administration, Sorry!! we are
not into that kind of game. It has nothing to do with Udom Emmanuel, it's not
an individual thing. This is real business, I want to run it very well so that
our people can benefit from it".
He
added, "We must bring everything to bear to make sure that we get this
place to run and run with best practices".
Also
Speaking, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong said an earlier
meeting with Cadio Care Medical Services based on complaints about challenges
they faced in managing the hospital had resolved to set aside the old MoU for a
new one.
The
Commissioner said while he was expecting to discuss in details the proposed
demand for scaling down of activities by the hospital management alongside the
price list of different treatments they were handling, he never heard from them
again.
Dr
Ukpong explained that a lawyer told him about the withdrawal of services by the
hospital managers a couple of weeks ago which he later confirmed in a letter
routed to his office and dated 21st September, 2017.
He
however announced that there were investors with interest in the Ibom
Specialist Hospital who he had taken to the facility for assessment but could
not access some rooms that were still being locked by the managers.
Fielding
questions from journalists, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
of Cardio Care Medical Services/ Managers of Ibom Specialist Hospital, Dr Yemi
Johnson who sat by the Governor, said what happened was not a permanent shutdown.
Dr
Johnson who did not deny knowledge of the amount paid so far by Governor
Emmanuel to his management team said they ran into difficulties following the
crash in oil prices, economic recession and devaluation of the naira which made
the original model difficult to operate.
He
complained that those factors militated against the running of the hospital the
way it was originally planned and stressed that revenues generated in the
hospital, made up of mostly foreign staff, were not matching the expenses hence
the shutdown.
The
Manager pointed out that they did not make any press statement concerning their
operations in the hospital saying that nobody in his right frame of mind would
want to abandon a place like Ibom Specialist Hospital.
He
said the rumours of lack of equipments in the hospital were unfounded and
should be disregarded.
The
Managing Director assured the people that they were in a process of seeing what
other models would work in running the hospital adding that several meetings
were being held to find a way forward.
The
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Uwemedimo Nwoko,
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udoh and the Chief Press
Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh, were present during the press
interaction.
See more pictures below..
No comments: