Kidney transplant: Health ministry, cattle breeders disagree over patient’s bills

By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi- The Bauchi Ministry of Health and the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the state have disagreed over the medical and transportation expenses of Buba Abubakar’s  successful kidney transplant in New Delhi, India.

Abubakar, 25, was the patient whose two kidneys were removed by a quack medical practitioner at the Aminchi Clinic in Bauchi State early last year.

However, the Miyetti Allah Association had in a letter to the Bauchi State Governor, Isah Yuguda, yesterday, requested that a committee be set up to investigate allegations that a top official of the state Ministry of Health, connived with his friend whose identity is yet to be known and requested for the refund of N955, 000 as against N350, 000 that was actually spent on Buba’s transportation and medical bill.

Those who signed the statement include  the Chairman, Mr Yakubu Jibrin and Administrative Director, Sadiq Ibrahim Ahmad.

While the Ministry had outstanding medical bills and transportation expenses of the patient totalling N955, 000, the association said that it had evidence that only about N350, 000 was spent, pointing out the money was sourced from a private consultant of the patient as against the claims by the Health Ministry that N955, 000 was spent by the government.

“Buba’s outstanding medical and transportation expenses were communicated to an official in the Bauchi State Ministry of Health by a close friend now in India in liaison with the patient’s hospital which had been working hard to ensure the successful return of the patient.”

The top official told the press that Buba’s expenses include an outstanding medical fee of N220, 000, purchase of medicine for six months to be administered at home, N486,000; air tickets, re-validation of the patient’s fee N35, 000, and cost of hired interpreter- N58, 000, among others, totaling N955, 000,” the association said.

It also claimed that Buba’s expenses for drugs was purchased at the cost of N124, 200, hotel accommodation in India -N259, 200, and other contingencies N90, 860, which amounted to N350, 000 and not N955, 000 as claimed by the ministry which is now awaiting the approval of Governor Yuguda.

But reacting to the association’s claims, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Malami  described the claims by officials of the association, as false.

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