More than 100 doctors at Garki Hospital will lose their jobs due to a concession agreement

Over 100 doctors and other medical staff at the Garki Hospital in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may lose their employment in the near future.

This is due to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement between Nisa Premier Hospital, the existing Garki Hospital administrators, and the FCT Administration expiring.

According to our information, the development would effect a total of 900 workers. 21 consultants, 113 doctors, 24 house officers, 159 nurses, 96 patient care attendants, pharmacists, medical record officers, laboratory scientists, and other technicians are among them.

According to hospital sources, the FCT administration issued the hospital management notice to leave on March 1, 2022, and handed over the facilities to them on April 1, 2022.

In 2007, Nisa Premier Hospital and the FCT administration inked a 15-year concession agreement, according to our information.

Following the signing of the agreement, the FCT government removed all equipment from the General Hospital.

According to reports, Nisa Premier Hospital began building the hospital from the ground up. Nisa Premier Hospital is claimed to own all of the hospital’s equipment at the moment.

The hospital’s management filed three letters to the FCT administration requesting a review of the concession agreement, but received no response until March 1, when the FCT administration wrote a letter telling the hospital of its plan to take over the facility, according to sources.

According to the findings, if the FCT Administration insists on taking over the hospital, over 3000 people with various health issues could be relocated, and many types of equipment would be destroyed since they would need to be re-calibrated for a longer period of time before being removed.

Dr Enema Amodu, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) FCT Chapter, voiced worry about the FCT Administration’s short notice for the Nisa Premier Hospital to evacuate the premises.

For the sake of the hospital’s nearly 900 employees and patients in long-term intensive care, he urged the FCT administration to reconsider its decision.

If the FCT decides not to extend the concession deal, Amodu believes the hospital management should be given at least 12 months to plan and depart the facility.

“Apart from the over 900 workers, there are patients on long-term intensive care who will require appropriate arrangements in order to continue receiving life-saving medications,” he said.

“A number of medical doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, as well as other house officers, are doing postgraduate residency training. They require time to complete their trainings or an alternative that will allow them to continue without interruption. One month is insufficient time for all of this to occur.

“Also, there are employees who are living in quarters on the site; giving them one month to move and find new housing is insufficient.”

“Keep in mind that the hospital contains a lot of delicate ICT equipment; how do you expect this equipment to be removed quickly without being damaged?”

“It is critical that we recognize and reward the hospital for the high quality and degree of health care services it has delivered to FCT residents by renewing the agreement.”

“I’m pleading with the FCT administration to examine the ramifications of their decision and renew the concession arrangement or allow the hospital additional time to evacuate.”

When contacted, Malam Abubakar Sani, the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, stated there was no issue between the FCT administration and the management of Nisa Premier Hospital.

While urging calm, Sani said the hospital’s relationship with the FCT administration is similar to that of a renter and his landlord, and that it will be handled peacefully.

“I understand the hospital is in talks with the FCT Administration following the concession agreement’s expiration.” When they reach an agreement, a technical team will be formed to examine the areas that need to be reviewed.”

“As a result, I insist that no one should be concerned because neither party is in any kind of crisis.” “We need the hospital’s services for our people, so there’s no need to panic,” he stated.