State house clinic
The Ministry of Health and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have
been ordered by the Hon. Magaji Aliyu-led House of Representatives
ad-hoc committee investigating the deplorable state of the Presidential
Clinic on Thursday, to provide a detailed account of the State House
Clinic.
The Nation reported that the House of Reps members expressed the
willingness to ensure the effective management of the State House Clinic
which according to them, is the first point of call in case of
health-related emergency at the office of Nigerian President.
The members expressed concern over the disclosure in the report
presented by the State House Permanent Secretary Jalal Arabi that out of
329 personnel working in the State House Clinic, 47 non-core medical
personnel for several years illegally collected call-duty allowances.
According to him, some doctors sponsored by the State House on
Residency Programmes (usually 2 years), got their call duty allowances
paid “even though they are no longer performing call duties at the Medical Centre.”
He further stated: “Sadly, some of them were discovered to have
spent close to 7 years doing a residency, with many changing
institutions, as they fail to qualify. In view of the fact that paying
doctors on sponsored Training programmed call duty allowance was
considered unearned allowances.
“IPPIS (OAGF) was advised to cease paying them such allowances
pending their return to duty from training. This has, however, become
controversial and we are reviewing with the assistance of the Federal
Ministry of Health who are guiding us appropriately,” Arabi said.
He said despite their failure to enlist on the State House Clinic’s
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), 80 percent of the State House
workers and their spouses are enjoying free medical services, at the
expense of the government
“The State House reached an agreement with HMOs with regard to
the remittance of all NHIS payments in respect of State House Staff
whose NHIS point is the State House Medical Centre. It is instructive,
however, to note that whereas almost 80% of the personnel serving in the
State House access medical services at the State House Medical Centre,
only about 20% of them selected the medical Centre as their NHIS point.
“The implication of the foregoing is that, whereas they access
free medical services at the Centre, their respective NHIS contributions
go to those medical facilities they selected as their providers, even
though they do not go there for any medical service. This explains the
quick depletion of the drugs and other consumables due to the very high
number of patients being attached,” he said.
It was learnt that on October the 12th, 2017, following a motion
sponsored by Henry Archibong (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and the outcry of the wife
of Mr President, Aisha Buhari, the House resolved to constitute an
ad-hoc committee to probe the deplorable condition of the State House
clinic.
At the interactive session were Ismaila Kawu, Senior Special
Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House); Ita
Enang, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters
(Senate); Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health and
representatives of Muhammad Bello, FCT Minister, held at the National
Assembly complex, Abuja.
Both the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire and the FCT
Health Secretary, Mrs Amanda Pam while appearing before the committee
said the state House clinic is not directly under the Ministry of Health
and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Magaji Aliyu, chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee and other lawmakers
were surprised over the presentations of both Ministers, as they denied
knowledge of activities of the State House Clinic.
Aliyu said: “The summary of the whole thing is that the clinic is just there, it is not supervised and is not under anybody.
“The Ministry of Health and FCT said they are not aware,
meaning the hospital is just there.. I want all information on the
clinic. We can’t afford to risk the life of Mr. President and somebody
should be responsible.”
But Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health put things in
perspective for the lawmakers. He said he does not know who is in charge
as the clinic is not directly under Federal Ministry of Health.
“The State House Clinic is not directly under my ministry. I
don’t know who is directly in-charge. I didn’t say that it is not under
anybody, may be under the FCT. It is not unusual that the clinic is not
under the ministry, this is also applicable in some states. This is what
we met on ground.
“I am not aware of the status of the training of the doctors
practising in the clinic. The choice of who heads the clinic lies on the
President. It is the prerogative of the President.”
The Clinic, he however said, is supposed to be operated along regular hospitals.
Amanda Pam, Secretary, FCT Health Secretariat while speaking
explained that the State House Clinic was not under the FCT
administration. “12 general hospitals and four teaching hospitals excluding State House Clinic are being supervised by the administration.”
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