- Nigeria’s public hospitals to benefit 50 per cent electricity subsidy, aimed to address the rising energy expenses that account for over 40% of hospital operational costs
- Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, also disclosed the government's plans to rebrand federal hospitals as specialist hospitals to broaden care services
- Alausa expressed strong confidence in the Chief Medical Director of the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, Dr Armiyau, who said the hospital’s progress aligns with Tinubu’s campaign commitments
In an effort to reduce operational expenses and lessen the financial strain on patients, the Federal Government has approved a substantial policy adjustment, which is a 50 per cent electricity subsidy for public hospitals throughout the nation.
The initiative aims to address hospitals' rising operational costs, of which energy expenses account for over 40%, as reported by the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP).
Health minister opens new healthcare facilities
This was announced by Dr Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, on Thursday, August 29, at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, where he opened several new facilities.
Among the new facilities are the Electronic Health Records system and an Alternative Power Supply at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex, as well as a solarisation project at the dialysis unit, which includes a solar-powered borehole and a 10.2 KVA inverter with a lithium battery at the Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf COVID-19 Intervention Centre.
Government discloses plans to broaden Federal hospitals
Dr Alausa also introduced plans to rebrand federal hospitals as specialist hospitals.
He said, “The renaming of our federal hospitals to Specialist Hospitals aims to broaden care services and eliminate the stigma, making these facilities more accessible to everyone.”
“While the core services will remain psychiatric, this renaming will allow for the continuous expansion of services.”
He expressed strong confidence in Dr Aishatu Yusha’u Armiyau, the Chief Medical Director, highlighting that the hospital’s progress aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign commitments.
N90bn Hajj subsidy scandal: EFCC detains NAHCON chairman, secretary
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained Jalal Arabi, the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), along with the commission's Secretary, Abdullahi Kontagora for alleged mismanagement of N90 billion 2024 Hajj subsidy.
The investigation uncovered fraudulent backdating of payment approvals for consultancy services, among others.