By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
The Chief Medical Director, (CMD), of the Federal Teaching Hospital (FTH) Lokoja, Dr. Olatunde Alabi, has indenfied shortage of staff and lack of critical equipment as major challenges impeding their operation in the Tatiary health center, despite the availability of over 80 qualified consultants in the facility.
The CMD who disclosed this in his office at the FTH Lokoja, noted that the exit of some of the experience staff of the hospital as a result of the popular ‘Japa Syndrome’ was majorly responsible for the shortage of staff in the hospital.
He noted that the strict process of employing new staff is also hindering the replacement of those staff that have exited from the hospital, saying some who were even on bond preferred to off-see their bond and trave out, which he said is now in vogue.
The CMD while also responding to why some medical cases are referred to other hospitals, even though a Tatiary health facility, noted that the absent of some critical equipment needed is some specialized department was largely responsible for this.
He however noted that the hospital is already making efforts to get some of these equipment, adding that once that is done the issue of referrals will be drastically reduced.
“If you have a case that is critical and the equipment is not there for you to work, we will not say because we are a Tatiary health center and allowed the person to die when we can simply refer the patient to another hospital which has these equipment, to save the life of the patient.
“Even though we have qualifed medical personnel’s in the hospital once the life of the patient is at stake due to absence equipment, it’s only logical and medically advisable to refer the patient to save the life of the stick person.
On the issue of alleged high cost of assessing medical services in the facility, the CMD said their charges are more affordable when compared to any private hospital in Lokoja and it’s environs.
“You cannot compare our charges to any private hospital in Lokoja when compared to the services we render. In terms of qualified doctors, nurses and other staff in the hospital, we are second to none. So I challenge anyone to come with any verifiable evidence.
The CMD who agreed that there are laxity among some staff of the center, however said efforts are constantly on to change the mindset of some of these members of staff.
“We are constantly checking this trend and we have taken some stringent measures to check this laxity among the affected staff including disciplinary actions against any airing staff in this direction.
“We do not condone any form of misbehavior from our staff, particularly towards patients who come here to assess medical attention. So we will continue to do this until they conformed with our set standards and objectives.
He called on the public to always report any case of negligence among their staff to allow the management investigate and deal with such issues, saying that SERVICON is specifically designed to check this laxity.