Private doctors draft additional 1,116 hospitals for free healthcare delivery

By Chioma Obinna
Following the turnout of patients at the various 84 centres provided by the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Lagos State Chapter, the association has drafted the additional 1,116 private hospitals to cushion the effects of the strike.

Also, the association had called for immediate conveyance of Health Summit in the state.

Reviewing the performance of the earlier 84 hospitals earmarked to offer free services, the State Chairman, AGPMPN Dr.Olayinka Oladosu who explained the rationale behind the establishment of the centres noted that the intention was to ameliorate the situation not to be total substitute to Government hospitals.

His words, “Even the 1,200 centers cannot solve all the problems. We are trying to ameliorate; we cannot solve all the problems. However, the services  that the centre is offering are actually free of charge  but beneficiaries must be card carrying of State Hospitals. Right now, we have some hospitals that are still functioning like General hospital, Igando, Mainland General hospital, Harvey Road hospital, Yaba.”.

Oladosu, however, declared that not all the government hospitals are closed down and patients are being referred from the private hospitals to government hospitals that are still running.

“If the case is beyond what the private hospital can handle, we take the patient in our vehicles to government hospitals that are still functioning.  If the emergencies are what we can handle, we treat them”

On the issue that not all the 1,200 private hospitals were contacted before listing them, Oladosu debunked the insinuation that AGPMPN is pro government, stating that the association is neither pro-government nor pro Lagos doctors but pro – masses and the down trodden in the society.

“We have received a lot of calls from our colleagues outside Lagos, whether the government is tele-guiding us. The decision to draft 1,200 private hospitals to help out while the crisis last  was reached in good faith and not in any way to be perceived as a pro- government agenda.

“It is not also meant to spite or scuttle the on – going efforts and appeals for quick resolution of the current crises between the medical Guild and Lagos State Government.

“This position is purely based on humanitarian consideration and out of concern by the medical profession for the masses that are directly affected by this crisis, the pains and sufferings of the common man in Lagos State.

“We earnestly pray for quick resolution of the crisis. Our sincere appreciation also goes to all well meaning Lagosians for the patience exhibited so far.”

Proffering solution to the incessant strike in the state, he further called for a health summit where all medical professionals including doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and other stakeholders will sit and chart the way forward for the health sector.

He was optimistic that the summit would in the long term reduce crisis in the health sector.