The management of the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan, says it has rescinded its earlier decision to impose a N1,000 electricity fee on every patient admitted in the hospital.

This was contained in a statement released by the hospital’s spokesperson, Toye Akinrinlola.

The statement quoted the Director of Administration of the hospital, Stephen Oladejo, as saying that there was never a time the hospital charged such a fee, adding that it was more concerned with adequate healthcare delivery to Nigerians.

It said the memo being referred to was an internal document which was not implemented after a thorough review from internal mechanisms for such issues and had since been withdrawn.

The statement said at no point did the hospital charge electricity fee.

“The attention of the Management of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, has been drawn to a publication in all sections of the media alleging that the hospital is charging N1,000.00 per patient daily for electricity.

“The hospital wishes to state that the memo being referred to was an internal memo which we did not implement after a thorough review from internal mechanisms for such issues and has since been withdrawn. At no point did the hospital charge electricity fee.

“The management of the hospital is not oblivious of the fact that the said publication could have a negative effect on our patients.

“We are assuring the public that we shall continue to deliver effective and efficient healthcare to Nigerians, irrespective of status,” he said.

Oladejo reiterated the commitment of the hospital to delivery of optimal healthcare services to the many patients who thronged the hospital daily.

According to him, the hospital has been magnanimous on several occasions by writing off unpaid medical bills.

“It is also important to state that the University College Hospital does not turn back patients and that on several occasions, had written off bills incurred by indigent patients.

“Our doors are always open for people to cross check our activities,” he said.

The tertiary hospital had in an internal memo dated June 21, 2022, leaked to the media, proposed N1, 000 utility bill to be added to the service charges of patients seeking to access care in the hospital.