The University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Nigeria’s premier medical institution and foremost tertiary hospital, has been experiencing unprecedented challenges in recent months. The hospital’s ongoing struggle with power supply has cast a shadow over its operations, creating a distressing environment for both patients and medical staff alike.

The situation reached a critical point last week when the hospital was plunged into darkness yet again due to unpaid electricity bills. In an extraordinary turn of events, patients and their families, who typically should focus solely on recovery, were forced to take matters into their own hands. They staged demonstrations against both the hospital authorities and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), marking an unprecedented development in the institution’s history.

The impact of these power disruptions has been far-reaching. Essential medical services, including surgical procedures, water supply, and crucial diagnostic tests, have been severely compromised. Some desperate patients have even resorted to seeking treatment elsewhere, despite the financial burden this entails. As one protester poignantly expressed, “We are witnessing our loved ones suffer needlessly. Patients are dying because they cannot receive the medical tests required for treatment. These power outages have not only hampered immediate medical assessments but have also gravely complicated ongoing treatments, leaving families in profound despair.”

The root of this crisis lies in a complex web of financial and administrative challenges. Professor Jesse Otegbayo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UCH, has pointed to IBEDC’s decision to categorise the hospital under Band A as a major contributing factor. “Our monthly electricity bill has skyrocketed to N99 million. Despite paying N60 million, IBEDC has refused to restore our power supply. The distribution company has, contrary to all our appeals, classified this hospital as a commercial entity,” he explained.

The situation became particularly dire in March 2024 when the hospital faced its third power disconnection of the year over an outstanding bill of N494 million. This prompted the CMD to make a special appeal to Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, requesting assistance on humanitarian grounds. The appeal highlighted UCH’s vital role in providing life-saving operations and critical care to indigent patients referred from across the country, including accident victims brought in by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

The hospital’s financial constraints are further exacerbated by insufficient monthly federal government subventions, making it increasingly difficult to meet various operational expenses, including electricity bills. Adding to these challenges, a civil rights group, the Utilities Consumers Rights Advocacy Initiatives of Nigeria, has alleged overbilling to the tune of N88 million between 2021 and 2024, prompting a petition to the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

The Bola Tinubu administration’s electricity classification system, implemented in April 2024, has introduced five categories of consumers based on hours of supply. Band A customers, receiving 20 hours of electricity daily, now face a staggering 240.9 percent increase in tariffs, paying N225 per kilowatt instead of the previous N66. This rigid classification system has given distribution companies unprecedented power to categorise consumers, often placing institutions like UCH in higher bands regardless of their actual needs or ability to pay.

The current crisis represents a significant departure from UCH’s illustrious history. Established in 1952, the institution once enjoyed international recognition, with its influence extending as far as the Middle East. However, Nigeria’s centralised governance system, including financial mechanisms like the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and Remita, has severely limited the hospital’s autonomy and ability to innovate, particularly in terms of power generation.

Looking ahead, UCH must explore alternatives to dependence on the national grid. However, this transition requires immediate government intervention to address the current crisis. As a federal institution, UCH deserves support either through the settlement of accumulated bills or through regulatory intervention to prevent further harassment from IBEDC.

The government’s role in this situation cannot be overstated. As the owner of teaching hospitals across the country, it bears the responsibility of ensuring their sustainable operation. This crisis at UCH serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reform in how essential public health institutions are managed and funded in Nigeria. The current situation not only threatens the delivery of crucial medical services but also risks undermining the institution’s historic legacy of excellence in medical education and healthcare delivery. (Blueprint Editorial)