The current economic situation of the country has taken its toll on the health sector as investigations has revealed the many patients including pregnant women have resorted to the traditional health care over medical facilities due to the high cost of obtaining proper medical attention.
Speaking on the recent trend, the Chief Medical Director, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Prof. Abdulwaheed Olatinwo said many patients had huge outstanding debts at the health care facility and have been unable to pay up.
“The problem is that more people cannot pay. We now need to be looking for more funds to take care of the poor as we cannot turn down people, most especially, emergency cases. For those who cannot pay, it is either we write their bills off or we rely on some philanthropists assistance.”
Also speaking on the issue, the Director-General, Kwara State Hospital Management Bureau, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter also revealed that new mothers and sick patients have been sneaking away from medical facilities over unpaid fees.
She said: “We have a lot of patients who are unable to pay their bills. I believe it is because of the situation of the country.”