The management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has waived N84 million bills for indigent patients.
The hospital revealed this against criticism in some sections of the media that it operates a detention cell where patients who are unable to pay their medical bills are kept.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Benin, the Edo State capital, to herald activities marking its 50th anniversary in May 12, 2023, the chief medical director of the hospital, Prof Darlington Obaseki, said the waivers were done in 2021.
He unveiled the theme and logo of the golden jubilee celebration and explained that the activities were part of giving back to the society for standing with the institution for the past 50 years.
Obaseki said the management had begun residency training for medical personnel working in its accident and emergency ward just as it called on the operators of the National Health Insurance Scheme to make it accessible to the poor.
He said in spite of the mass exodus of medical personnel, as one of the challenges confronting health care delivery in the nation, the teaching hospital had been able to deliver on the mandates of the founding fathers of the hospital.
He said the famous medical institution built by the then governor of the mid- western region, Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia started as a 300-bedded hospital in 1973, which has grown to a 900- Bedding facility today.
He announced that part of events slated to mark its 50th anniversary among others is free training for first responders on basic life support, free Cancer Screening, executive Screening and subsidized surgeries.
