The Management of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has imposed on each patient, a mandatory payment of N1,000 daily for electricity.
The hospital, via an internal memo circulated on June 21, said high cost of electricity tariffs and increasing price of diesel were behind the decision to force patients to shoulder the cost of power supply.
Price of diesel in Nigeria is currently hovering between N800 and N900 per liter.
The letter, sighted by ENERGY TIMES titled ‘Approval For The Recommendation To Add Utility Fee To The Service Fee Charged To Patients In The Hospital’, was signed by UCH administrator, Wole Oyeyemi, on behalf of the chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, and Chief Medical Director.
It read: “Following the recurring power outage in the hospital, high cost of electricity tariff and inflation in the price of diesel which have impeded stable power supply, management has decided to consider measures that can help to facilitate flawless service delivery in the hospital.
“To this end, I write to convey the Management’s approval for the mandatory payment of utility fee of N1,000.00 (one thousand naira only) daily by every patient accessing care in this hospital.
“You are requested to kindly implement the approval with immediate effect.”
“The letter was addressed to the Director/Head, Finance and Accounts Department, UCH.
