Don't even know what to say anymore. Reading some post here makes me want to scream.

Having been opportune to manage 3 hospitals in Lagos Island, Ilupeju and Victoria Island respectively. I think am qualified to say that my experiences in those areas exposed me to the very poor, average class, rich and the super rich. Giving me full insight into how some hospitals operate in Nigeria and why staff are not motivated.

In all my experiences, I instruct staff....never to request money before treatment not even registration card. Meaning I will start treatment immediately, stabilize my patients after which we can discuss payment modalities. Often times patients don't even hesitate to pay any amount they are charged and fully. Appreciating the approach. "Life First"

I class my patients into very poor, average and rich.

Very poor: Pay full very reduced fees, Pay reduced part fees, Pay reduced fees by installment or Pay Nothing ( when it's obvious )....At my discretion ignoring hospital protocol.

Average: Pay full moderate fees, Pay part moderate fees, Pay by installment. At my discretion. Ignoring hospital protocol.

Rich/Super Rich: Pay full mandatory fees or Pay by Installment. No discretion. No reduced fees. (Accessible and Affordable For All).

All emergency kits are available and easily accessible. Staff...including myself are fully on ground. Mini theatre and delivery room in ready state. 24/7.

All patients are accessed as quickly as possible, those beyond our scope are stabilized if necessary and referred immediately.

In that way, fund is available to run daily activities and pay salary. Nobody dies in the hospital (Primary Goal)

Was not in anyway related to the owners of the 3 hospitals. Each hospital owed their staff minimum 2 months salary and those that supply them drugs etc. My decision is final because its my license that is at stake not theirs.

Bottom line is protocols have to be broken to save lives even if your job is on the line.

Save life before money.

Interestingly..I never lost my job. Neither did the owners sanction me for giving free service at times including free normal delivery or charging the super rich exorbitantly because that's what subsidize for the poor.

The 3 hospitals gained more patients from my approach and turn over was great. And they became the first point of call within the locality despite being previously written off as dead zone for anyone to come out there alive. Staff salary was increased for the first time over 6 -12 yrs. (Motivating Staff)

Hospital management needs to be flexible in their operations, motivate their staff paying salary and on time and equipping their establishments.

No life was lost in any of those hospitals during my stay. Not because we were the best, but for putting life first before money, making it affordable and accessible for all and attitudinal change patients and hospital staff.

It's easy to finger point, but patients and medical staff attitude needs to change. Only then can we reduce avoidable deaths.

So sad to hear. No regulatory body checking if public and private hospitals are fit for purpose. Maternal and Infant mortality occurring in the city. Whats happens in the rural areas? From the story the hospital is ill equipped and staff could not recognize an emergency. She doesn't even need to bleed profusely before they know they have a case of emergency. The fact that she is not a booked patient implies high risk pregnancy and as such should be treated as one until proven otherwise. Shame...the hospital should be locked up. Their conduct was Appalling.

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