AKSG REVIEWS MOU ON IBOM SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, EXPLAINS SUSPENSION OF SERVICES

The Akwa Ibom State Government has begun the process of reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with CardioCare Medical Services,the consulting firm managing Ibom Specialist hospital, Uyo, to facilitate resumption of operations at the Quaternary hospital.
It is also considering sourcing for new managers to take over the administration of the medical facility, in event the redrafted terms does not favour the state.
Governor Udom Emmanuel disclosed this, while briefing Government House reporters on the circumstances that led to the suspension of services in the hospital, at Government House, Uyo
The Governor, who said that by virtue of his office, he owed the people explanations on everything happening in the state, maintained that he was shocked at the sudden suspension of services at the hospital despite huge resources committed to ensure the smooth operations of the institution.
He explained that the managing firm did not fulfill the terms of agreement which included submission of detailed monthly, quarterly and annual statement of revenues received and expenditures incurred, to Akwa Ibom State Government, adding, "every human being who invest in an asset expect a return, be it in a social cost or services, the return may not be in terms of naira profit but there must be that social return and equity from people that would enjoy the services but once you deny me of this, certainly you have not met the obligations".
The State Chief Executive acknowledged, "Immediately I took over in 2015, we released Five Million Dollars to the hospital as take off working capital. I don't say things behind, Dr Yemi Johnson is here, he can attest to this and I have vouchers to show evidence of payment. I expected to get a financial report within the first three months so when the management said the money has finished, i was alarmed because we did not have much on ground.

"I released another 250 million naira because the manager assured me that the business was picking up and I gave the money believing that I am rendering social services to my people. Till today, I don't know how the money was spent because there was no financial record from the hospital management and in the last quarter of 2015, i made available to the equipment suppliers the sum of 1 billion naira to keep the hospital running.
"Early this year, a Federal Government Agency, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), donated a 500 KVA Generator to the hospital and I told the Commissioner we could use it as back-up to supply electricity in the hospital but the Generator was not working and we used one hundred and eighty three thousand naira to repair the set. Every month I supply about 60, 000 litres of Disel for the hospital use.
"In 2016, during the Reigners Bible Church Collapse, we flew in consultants and many other hospitals were involved in the management of the casualties. We released 50 million naira as Payment on Account to keep the services running pending reconciliation. By first quarter of this year, I paid another 300 million naira to the equipment suppliers''
He further explained that ''within this period, the state government had never seen one naira revenue nor ever received one financial statement of even one month to show the financial status of the hospital''.
Mr. Emmanuel pointed out that he offered to use his office imprest to pay consultants who were not paid, to enable them continue their services which led to the release of another 180 million naira to the hospital on the understanding that the facility would be running, only to discover that the Specialist Hospital had been locked up, noting that the management did not inform him or the Health Commissioner of their departure.
The Governor said the hospital was not closed down as was being reported, stressing, ''we are trying to review whatever has been put on paper and try to make sure that it works and works well',' while expressing hope that the new agreement would ensure the sustenance of the vision of the hospital, to render affordable and best medical care to the people.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong, said he was informed of the suspension of services in the hospital, by a legal practitioner through a letter addressed to his office dated September 21, adjudging the Quaternary health institution, as the best in Africa, in terms of equipment and services.

Dr. Ukpong stated that it would amount to insensitivity on the part of government to shut down the hospital which was built to international specifications to encourage medical tourism in the country, announcing that government was sourcing for alternative management in case the reviewed agreement is not in the best interest of the state administration.
On his part, the Chief Medical Director of Cardiocare Medical Services, Dr Yemi Johnson, explained that the hospital suspended its operations due to the harsh economic climate occasioned by fluctuations in the currency and attendant recession in the country.
He added that since the unfortunate scenario and difficulty experienced in making purchases as well as payment of expatriates caused disruption in the previous model of agreement, the concerned parties are seeking ways of reaching new agreements and coming up with another model that would see to the smooth operations at the hospital.
Evelyn-A. Bassey
AKS Govt. House Press