Teaching Hospital Produces 350 Doctors, Upgrades Services

The chief medical director (CMD) of Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital (BDTH), Kaduna, Prof. Abdulkadir Musa Tabari, has hinted that the institution has produced about 350 medical doctors since it received accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The CMD made the disclosure yesterday during an interview with journalists in Kaduna, where he also highlighted what he described as a broader transformation in healthcare delivery at the institution through partnerships and improved service systems.

According to him, the hospital produces about 50 medical doctors annually, with six sets already graduated and the seventh set currently in progress.

“Every year, we produce about 50 doctors. We have graduated six sets, and the seventh set is coming up. Altogether, we are talking about 350 medical doctors,” he said.

Tabari explained that the graduates have contributed to healthcare delivery within Kaduna State and beyond, while others have moved to other institutions or opportunities outside the country.

Beyond medical training, Prof. Tabari said the hospital continues to rely on support from individuals, foundations and corporate organisations to assist indigent patients who are unable to afford treatment.

He noted that several organisations intervene in critical health areas such as vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) treatment and child malnutrition, while others assist in settling medical bills for vulnerable patients.

“There are many individuals and organisations that come in to assist our indigent patients. Some support fistula cases, others intervene in malnutrition cases, and many also help settle patients’ bills whenever the need arises,” he said.

On allegations of a sharp increase in service charges, the CMD dismissed claims that the hospital had raised prices by up to 500 per cent, insisting that such reports were not accurate.

He explained that adjustments in service costs were largely influenced by prevailing economic conditions and rising operational expenses, particularly in energy and equipment maintenance.

Prof. Tabari also clarified that the hospital’s partnership with Taj Bank under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement was aimed at improving radiology services and not a move to inflate charges.

According to him, the collaboration has helped improve efficiency in diagnostic services, including reduced waiting time for laboratory results and faster turnaround in patient care.

He said the PPP arrangement has enabled the provision of equipment such as CT scan machines, generators and technical support personnel to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

The CMD further disclosed that while the hospital’s CT scan services have been upgraded, the MRI machine currently in use had developed faults but would soon be reactivated under the existing partnership arrangement.

He added that the hospital has also approached the state government for the possible acquisition of a more advanced MRI machine to strengthen diagnostic capacity.

On human resources, he identified brain drain as one of the major challenges facing the institution, noting that doctors and nurses continue to leave for better-paying institutions both within and outside the country.

He said the trend has been driven largely by remuneration disparities, despite ongoing reviews of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) at the federal level.

The CMD, however, reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to sustaining medical training, improving service delivery and strengthening partnerships aimed at enhancing healthcare access for residents of Kaduna State and beyond.