Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has sparked a heated public debate after announcing a new policy that requires patients or their families to pay an upfront ₦430,000 (about $500) for emergency admissions. The directive, issued by hospital management this week, comes at a time when many Lagos residents are grappling with soaring food prices, high transport costs and stagnant wages.
Hospital officials say the policy is a response to years of under‑funding, rising operational expenses and the removal of fuel subsidies, which have pushed the price of a unit of blood to double its former cost. Imported medical supplies, they added, are also hit by foreign‑exchange volatility. Management insists the payment is not a profit‑making scheme; the amount will be reconciled against the final bill and any excess refunded, and talks are ongoing with the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) to enrol emergency patients retroactively into the state health‑insurance scheme.
Patients and ordinary Lagosians reacted with anger and disbelief. “₦430,000 for emergencies? That’s more than what I make in a year,” said Kabir Musa, an okada rider. “If my child collapses tonight, where do I get that money from? Government hospitals are supposed to be our last hope. Now even that one is gone.” Similarly, primary‑school teacher Grace Ijeoma of Ojo warned, “I earn ₦80,000 a month. If there’s an emergency today, I can’t raise ₦430,000 even if I sell everything. We will pray and use herbs?”
Medical student Ronke Adebayo, who is completing clinical postings at LASUTH, acknowledged the financial strain on the emergency unit, noting that “oxygen, drugs, staff on call 24/7, power – LASUTH spends millions daily.” She urged the government to create a waiver or insurance system for indigent patients, adding that less than 10 % of Lagosians are currently covered by the state health‑insurance scheme.
Human‑rights advocates have questioned the legality of the policy. Visual artist Seyi Ajayi called it “unconstitutional and inhumane,” arguing that the Constitution guarantees the right to life and that emergency care should not be conditional on payment. Legal experts have pointed to the National Health Act, which prohibits hospitals from refusing emergency treatment, but LASUTH has not yet responded to those concerns.
Economists warn that the policy reflects a deeper fiscal crisis. Olumide Fasina of WestBridge Advisory said the state is shifting healthcare costs to individuals as debt servicing consumes over 40 % of revenue. Aisha Kadiri, director of research at the Centre for Public Policy and Development, warned that “the elasticity of demand for emergency care is zero; people will not pay and will die at home.” Both experts called for an immediate waiver for the poorest 40 % of residents and a compulsory, subsidised health‑insurance pool to prevent a surge in out‑of‑pocket catastrophes.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
