FCT Minister Debunk Rumors To Shut Down Garki District Hospital - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Publisher (A.M)
April 1, 2022
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said that the FCT Administration has no plans whatsoever to shut down the Garki District Hospital, explaining that the 15 year concession agreement signed between the FCTA and the Nisa Medical Group on the management of the hospital expires on the 31 of March, 2022 after which the hospital reverts back to the FCTA to enable the Administration provide for more public hospital bed spaces.
He gave the assurance when he received the Executive members of the FCT branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led by its Chairman, Dr. Enema Job Amodu, on a courtesy visit to the FCTA, said the concession agreement had an expiration date as assented to by both parties.
The minister said the whole idea is to expand the hospital space, to expand the specialty space.He said that the government has the responsibility to provide health care to residents of the FCT and shutting down the hospital will go contrary to that responsibility.
The Minister assured that FCTA officials and the Nisa Group would   work on modalities moving forward adding that whatever arrangement was reached thereafter will be in the best interest of residents of the Territory and other patrons of the hospital outside the FCT.
He also assured that all medical professionals working or training at the hospital who wish to remain there were free to do so as the administration does not have any intention to disrupt any activity at the hospital.
Malam Bello used the occasion to commend the NMA for the support that the FCT Administration had always enjoyed from the body and its members.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Dr Amodu expressed concern over FCTA’s decision to terminate the concession agreement of the Garki District Hospital with NIA Medical Group. However, he noted that if for other reasons, the FCTA deems it fit not to renew the concession, with NISA Medical Group, the FCTA should consider the doctors and other health workers presently working in the hospital with a view to retaining their services and to complete their programmes such as residency training, internship etc.
While commending the Honourable Minister on achievements in infrastructural development in the FCT, Dr. Amodu reaffirmed NMA’s commitment in partnering with the FCTA and identifying with its goals and aspirations.
Present at the meeting were the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, Chief of Staff to the Honourable Minister, Malam Bashir Mai Borno, Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Abubakar Tafida, Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP, Hon. Lukman Dabiri, Director General, Hospital Management Board, Dr. Muhammad Kawu, SSA Health and Hospital Matters, DR Ejike Orji, General Counsel, Barr. Muhammed Umar and other senior officials of the FCTA and Executives of the FCT NMA.