The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) is under fire from former patients, advocates, and concerned citizens over what they describe as gross inadequacies in service delivery, negligence, and poor infrastructure. This outcry was ignited by a public complaint from Efio-Ita Nyok PhD, a Calabar-based commentator, who exposed questionable practices at the hospital’s dental clinic NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
In a Facebook post, Dr. Nyok narrated how, after paying N4,100 for a hospital card, he was issued a cardboard piece on which his details were handwritten. When he requested a proper card, hospital staff reportedly laughed him to scorn. “Why is the dental clinic of UCTH not open? Why are some dentists not always available to patients? What’s special about that clinic, please?” Nyok questioned.
The incident, which sparked widespread condemnation, drew attention to a litany of issues at UCTH. Atti Ekpenyong, a social commentator, stated, “There is no SERVICOM at UCTH.” He went on to recount a harrowing experience where hospital staff left his wife bleeding for seven days due to incomplete manual evacuation after childbirth. Despite presenting scan results showing their error, the hospital demanded full payment for a repeat procedure. “Servicom in UCTH is hugely politicized and compromised,” Ekpenyong alleged.
A Pattern of Negligence
Other respondents on social media shared similar grim experiences. Festus Azogor described the hospital as being overwhelmed by “student doctors,” leading to repeated losses of loved ones due to inadequate care. Vincent Akpo lamented, “Prompt attention can help save lives, but if you’re not a member of a reputable family, you’re ignored.”
Enifon Nyok recounted neglect during his wife’s childbirth, saying, “The workers act unattached, unconcerned, and unperturbed. No drugs, no care… I am still suffering for deciding to take my wife there.”
Kris Odey Chris, who spent months confined in the male orthopedic ward, highlighted infrastructural decay and operational lapses. He revealed that patients often had to buy fuel to power hospital facilities like operating theatres, while medical staff used torchlights during treatments.
Richard Obase Odu a journalist and others described UCTH as a “cesspool of corruption,” while Majuk Pathfinder Sunday recalled paying for medical registration only to receive the same cardboard treatment as Nyok. Similar cases were highlighted by Effiong Ephraim II a religious cleric, who labeled UCTH “the filthiest hospital ever.”
UCTH Responds but Fails to Satisfy
UCTH Corporate Affairs responded to Dr Nyok’s initial complaint, describing the hospital as “a work in progress” and requesting evidence of the cardboard issued by staff. However, the response was criticized for being defensive and lacking professionalism. Critics argued that the hospital failed to directly address systemic issues or provide actionable solutions.
Nyok and others highlighted that this lackluster response only compounds the hospital’s woes. “UCTH’s management needs to acknowledge its failures and engage with patients constructively,” Nyok said.
Systemic Failures or Leadership Gaps?
The criticisms against UCTH extend beyond individual complaints. Some commentators noted that inefficiencies in Nigeria’s teaching hospitals are systemic. Enangha Stephen commented, “University teaching hospitals are notorious for neglect and poor service delivery. Patients are often treated as test subjects rather than human beings.”
Critics also pointed out the declining morale among medical staff, many of whom leave Nigeria for better opportunities abroad, contributing to shortages. This aligns with Ohighe Akhiemienho’s comment that “most of the dentists have left the country.”
A Call for Accountability
Several respondents called for urgent reforms. Ekpenyong suggested that the National Assembly investigate the state of SERVICOM at UCTH and other teaching hospitals nationwide. Other commentators emphasized the need for transparent leadership and patient-centered care.
The series of complaints against UCTH underscores a broader crisis in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. While the hospital’s management acknowledges the need for improvement, its response to public outcry has left many unconvinced: ‘This nonsense won’t stop until Nigerian hospital understand that leadership of hospital shouldn’t be just for Medical Doctors’, Utitumfon Patrick Utitumfon observed. Without a clear commitment to addressing these challenges, the trust of patients and the public remains fragile.
Efforts to contact UCTH for additional comments were unsuccessful at the time of publication. However, the voices of patients and advocates continue to demand urgent action to restore confidence in this critical institution.
