By Jude Michael
The Management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, has debunked social media reports about the general welfare of the hospital as well as the issue of fees, describing it as untrue and unfounded.
A press release signed by the public relations officer of COOUTH, Amaku, Awka, Henrietta Agbai, and made available to newsmen in Awka, read, ‘We have been made aware of a false and spiteful publication on social media titled, “Sequel to Amaku Hospital Mess”.
‘This publication contains mischievously untrue statements about our fees and general welfare of the hospital.
‘A careful perusal will show that it was a targeted attempt to put our institution in bad light because we have a functional SERVICOM Department that addresses all genuine complaints and issues 24/7.
‘Everything in the said publication about some fees in our institution was wrong and of no truth.
On the issue of consultation fee, she said the writer feigned to be oblivious of the current situation in the country with the exorbitant price increases of everything.
‘For example, we used to buy diesel at N270 per litre, but it is now N1,500. Addition of N1,000 in this moment of high inflation is fair and should not be criminalized.
‘The Management is doing everything possible to maintain constant power even when the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) bill skyrocketed from N4,500,000 to N19,5000,000 per month.
‘We wonder why the writer singled out Amaku amidst the problems that faced every institution and company. He did not see anything wrong in EEDC skyrocketing the electricity bill and disconnecting the hospital’s light with very short notice, not minding that some of these patients are on life support.
‘In setting the records straight, COOUTH was never owning EEDC before this new development. We are sure the writer knows the person and capacity of the Chief Medical Director. If he had any genuine complaint, he would have started from the Management than inciting the patients and calling on the Governor,’ Agbai stated in the release.
According to her, ‘The writer blatantly ignored the total transformational changes currently going on in the institution, starting from: automation of the hospital with electronic medical services; various ongoing structures in the hospital; increase in the patients’ load (meaning that the number of patients coming to COOUTH for different medical purposes increased by 30%); solar-powered building;
accident/emergency and administrative block; accreditation for specialist training of postgraduate doctors in internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, paediatrics and community medicine, among others.
‘We have remarkably improved in attendance to patients. With the introduction of Servicom, complaints are effectively addressed with patients’ optimal satisfaction. People with veritable complaints usually report to Servicom because the hospital is for the good of everybody.
‘Genuine people of Anambra State have been coming around to offer useful suggestions and even settling patients’ bills in view of the current situation in the country.
‘We are using this opportunity to plead with the general public to always channel all genuine complaints, advice and criticisms to SERVICOM, which is a department created to tackle issues involving patients and staff of the institution. Let’s work together to build a trustworthy and efficient healthcare system,’ she concluded.
