The House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that tertiary health institutions across the country are adequately equipped and funded to deliver quality healthcare services.
Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Patrick Umo, made this assurance during an oversight visit to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) in Cross River State. He led other committee members to inspect various upgraded infrastructure and newly installed medical equipment within the hospital.
Hon. Umo commended the management of UCTH for the visible improvements in the facility, describing the developments as evidence of responsible and strategic healthcare administration. He stressed the need for adequate budgetary support to reposition second-generation tertiary health facilities like UCTH for optimal service delivery.
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Speaking during the oversight tour, the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Professor Ikpeme Ikpeme, presented a comprehensive budget performance and project implementation report for the year. He explained that the hospital’s 2024 budget was carefully structured to address key infrastructural and service gaps.
The budget focused on expanding diagnostic service capacity, resolving perennial water shortages through a formal water treatment and reticulation system, continuing construction of the Accident, Emergency, and Trauma Center, rehabilitating structurally compromised hospital buildings, remodeling and renovating the main theater, and procuring equipment to strengthen surgical care delivery.
Prof. Ikpeme disclosed that of the ₦17 billion appropriated for the hospital in the fiscal year, ₦17.041 billion was utilized, representing a 99% execution rate. Overhead expenses stood at ₦303 million, of which ₦280.7 million was expended, translating to 92% utilization. Capital expenditure utilization reached 99%, with ₦2.2 billion spent out of ₦2.4 billion budgeted.
Despite this commendable performance, he noted that the hospital experienced a two-week delay in operations due to shortfalls in fund disbursement.
He also provided a breakdown of overhead spending which covered areas such as transportation, utilities, maintenance, stationery, catering, staff allowances, outsourced services, and administrative expenses.
Prof. Ikpeme emphasized that continued government support was crucial to consolidate the progress made and further improve patient care outcomes.
The visit ended with a renewed pledge by the House Health Committee to advocate increased legislative backing for tertiary health institutions in Nigeria, in line with the broader goal of strengthening the nation’s healthcare system.
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