National hospital seeks public-private partnership funding

The Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Mahmud, has stated that the hospital is seeking a Public-Private Partnership model of funding to be able to function optimally.

Mahmud spoke on Monday in Abuja, at a news briefing to commemorate the hospital’s 25th anniversary.

Also read: National hospital plans world-class healthcare delivery

He said that hospitals do not have to fully depend on the government to fund their projects, which is why private funding should come in to augment what the hospitals get.

“PPP should come in. From our banks to some financial institutions within the country, that would be an easier access to funding into the health care sector.

“We can also collaborate with funding sources out of the country to do that, this PPP could also be public-private, or even private-private funding.

“So, the National Hospital is also looking seriously into such funding and looking for outside donors or philanthropists to assist.

“With this, we are also calling on Nigerians who are well-to-do, or in a position to come to the aid of each of our hospitals and most especially National Hospital because it is the pride of the country,” he said.

According to Mahmud, the National Hospital is supposed to be the apex hospital in Nigeria and the aim is to take it to the level where even the tertiary hospitals will refer patients that are difficult for treatment.

Mahmud said most of the hospital’s revenue goes into power generation, adding that many of the hospital’s equipment have to be on electricity 24-hour a day to avert casualties.

He, however, said that the recent intervention by the government reducing electricity tariff by 50 per cent for hospitals was commendable and a welcome development.

On the alleged suspension of service to National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) subscribers, he said that the hospital has never stopped treating NHIA patients.

He added that 70 per cent of the patients of the hospital were subscribers to NHIA.

Mahmud, however, said that there were some complaints about the tariffs or premium being paid by the subscribers as it does not reflect the times.

According to him, the premium paid by the subscribers was not reviewed for 12 years while the prices of commodities and services had increased.

Mahmud said, “So, we have never, ever pushed NHIA patients away.

“Up until recently, it took probably 12 years before the tariff of NHIA was reviewed and even the current tariff now is not up to what we want.

“Though we know it’s not good enough, we are happy with it because it’s better than where we left.”

With regards to activities on the 25 years anniversary, Mahmud said that they commenced on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the National Hospital Chapel, while there would be a Juma’at prayer on Friday at the National Hospital Mosque.

He added that other activities that have been scheduled as part of the anniversary would be done later in the year.

Quadri Olaitan