UNTH STAFF PROTEST OVER ILLEGAL PRIVATE LABORATORY IN THE HOSPITAL

Some staff members of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital UNTH, Ituku, Ozalla have appealed to the Federal Government to investigate the operations of an illegal private laboratory under the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

Speaking during a peaceful protest in Enugu, the staff members alleged that more attention had been focused on the privately owned unit since its establishment to the deteriment of the patients and government owned laboratories.

They carryed placards with inscriptions such as; say no to illegal privatization in UNTH, quackery by non scientists must stop, patients interest is our interest, ICU stop over charging our patients.

The leader of the group, Comrade Francis Aneke explained that the illegal private medical laboratory unit under the intensive care department of the hospital had diverted the patients to the ICU private laboratory for tests at exorbitant costs.

Another member of the association, MrAmaechiMba, accused the hospital management of intentionally denying them some logistics such as water and electricity to make the government lab, ineffective and pave way for the private one to thrive.

Narrating his experience, MrOnyedikachi David who took her sick mother to conduct a test at the private lab, described the situation as worrisome. Addressing the protesters, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee UNTH, DrObinnaOnodugo said the management would discuss with the leadership of the association to find lasting solutions to the problem.

Radio Nigeria also gathered their most of the equipment in the government laboratory were obsolete and malfunctioning.

 
OBINNA OBUKA