Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The management of Somolu General Hospital in Lagos has dismissed allegations of poor fund utilisation and lack of accountability in the management of its indigent healthcare scheme, insisting that the programme is being administered with transparency and due process. The denial came in response to a petition by the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) Global Resource Initiative, which had raised concerns over the handling of a monthly health intervention fund provided by the Somolu Local Government.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Mustapha Quadri, in a statement issued on Wednesday, rejected the allegations, which he said were based on inaccurate information. He clarified that the indigent fund scheme at the hospital has been implemented with a high level of diligence, transparency, and accountability. "There is a structured framework in place to identify genuinely indigent patients through established socio-economic assessment protocols or written referrals," Quadri said. He added that all disbursements are properly recorded and subject to periodic internal reviews, with reports made available to relevant authorities.
The controversy began when HURMA Global Resource Initiative petitioned the hospital management on April 13, demanding transparency and accountability from the hospital’s Welfare Department regarding the N3 million monthly welfare support provided by the office of the Chairman of Somolu Local Government. The group alleged that the fund was being poorly utilised and that there was a lack of transparency in its management. The group also claimed that some indigent patients referred to the hospital for free medical attention were being directed to purchase drugs outside the hospital, forcing them back into situations where they must seek financial help from the public to meet hospital expenses.
Quadri, however, disputed the claims, specifically rejecting assertions regarding the size of the fund. "It is important to note that there was never a time the fund was up to two million naira (₦2m) as stated in the letter," he said. He also denied allegations that a representative of HURMA had visited the Welfare Department to lodge complaints. "There was also never a time a Comrade Monsur Akinyemi visited the Welfare Department for any sort of complaints," the Medical Director added.
On the origin of the scheme, Quadri also disputed claims by HURMA that it was their initiative. "The monthly health/media intervention scheme was never initiated by HURMA," he stated. "The former Chairman of Somolu Local Government, AbdulHameed Salau, bought the idea when management sold it to him. The fund was recently increased to ₦3m by the current chairman, Lateef Ashimi."
Regarding the allegations that indigent patients were being denied care or medications, the hospital described such claims as inaccurate. "The hospital dispenses available drugs to indigent patients under the scheme, free of charge. The hospital does not chase away indigent patients; rather, the medical social welfare department uses a template to decide who is actually indigent to avoid abuse," Quadri said.
He, however, acknowledged operational pressures, citing rising patient numbers and referrals beyond the scheme’s scope as factors that could create misconceptions about efficiency. "These challenges are systemic and not due to a lack of transparency or commitment on the part of the hospital," he said.
The Medical Director also raised concerns about documentation requirements, noting that aspects of the existing reporting format, such as including patients’ names alongside ailments, could conflict with medical confidentiality standards under the Hippocratic Oath. While criticising what he described as premature allegations, Quadri maintained that the hospital remains open to collaboration with civil society groups.
"We remain fully committed to continuous improvement, including more frequent stakeholder briefings, provision of dedicated cards for beneficiaries, a dedicated medication shelf for the scheme and improved public communication," he said. He added that all patients treated at the facility are captured within an electronic medical records system to ensure proper documentation and continuity of care.
The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) Global Resource Initiative had earlier petitioned the management of the hospital, requesting improvements in service delivery to poor patients and demanding transparency and accountability. The group claimed that some poor patients referred to the hospital for free medical attention were now being directed to purchase drugs outside the hospital, forcing them back into situations where they must seek financial help from the public to meet hospital expenses.
The group had also alleged that the Welfare Department had failed to comply with a requirement to collect used forms from the Human Rights Monitors monthly. It stated that the matter might attract prosecutorial attention if corrective actions were not taken promptly.
Quadri, however, reiterated the hospital’s willingness to engage further with HURMA to address outstanding concerns and strengthen the delivery of the indigent fund for vulnerable residents. "The hospital has remained open to oversight and engagement aimed at improving the scheme," he said.
The disagreement between the hospital and the civil society group highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring transparency in the management of public funds meant for the indigent. As the hospital continues to operate, the need for a more robust and collaborative approach to accountability remains critical to ensuring that the most vulnerable members of society receive the care they deserve.
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