The Federal Medical Centre, Jabi in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday, said that accident victims treated with disdain by health workers in the hospital have been discharged.
According to the Head, Clinical Services of the hospital, Dr. Bioku Muftau, while the patient with head injury was stabilised, treated, and discharged on Sunday, the remaining two victims had minor scratches and also left the hospital the same day.
Meanwhile, about eight health workers in the hospital are currently under investigation over the June 6, 2025 incident at the emergency unit of the hospital in which health workers on duty displayed a nonchalant attitude towards accident victims brought to the facility by a Good Samaritan.
Among those being investigated are four doctors, two nurses, and two health assistants, while the number may increase depending on the responses of the staff under investigation.
In a viral video on social media over the weekend, some health workers in the Emergency Unit of the hospital displayed a nonchalant attitude towards accident victims brought to the facility by a Good Samaritan, claiming that the hospital did not have hand gloves.
The federal government immediately ordered a full investigation of the incident.
Responding to questions from journalists yesterday at the hospital, Dr. Bioku Muftau, who stated that the hospital does not treat complaints from patients with levity, said, “We are investigating eight staff, but it depends on what’s the response. If we hit another point, we’ll invite them too. But for now, there are eight: four doctors, two nurses, and two health assistants.”
He noted that what transpired on Saturday at the emergency unit negates the vision and mission of the facility to become a world-class hospital. “We don’t take it lightly, the treatment of patients. We know that patient satisfaction is at the centre of our mission and vision, and the hospital has done a lot in the last four or five years all in an attempt to reverse medical tourism in Nigeria, and we are the pride of the Ministry of Health.”
Muftau stated that the 220-bed hospital is always filled to the brim and that the hospital treats over 30,000 patients every month.
He noted that the hospital has over 100 consultants spanning different specialities, adding that the Emergency Unit, which presently has 20 beds, will soon be expanded, while the government will provide additional manpower to effectively run the unit.
Muftau, who insisted that the hospital does not in any way reject patients, observed that the hospital is running a medical scheme for indigent patients in which it pays the hospital bills for very poor patients who cannot afford it, and also treats unconscious patients.
He stated that there is enough manpower for the Emergency Unit, stressing that the unit is not short-staffed or overwhelmed.
Muftau observed that the hospital has various platforms to complain, including multiple phone numbers everywhere in the hospital — in the wards, clinics, and other service points — and a QR code which patients’ relatives can scan using their phones to write their assessment of the services.
“So there are (means) for any patient or relative to complain about our service. You can also go online, through email, to also complain if you have an issue.”
He said, “This is a government-owned hospital that has been performing routine heart surgery for the past 34 years. We also do laser surgery, prostate procedures, and we have started a kidney transplant programme. The last one we did was very successful. We also do spine procedures — fixing spine challenges — and do hip replacement and knee replacement. So \[this is] a hospital that has started reversing medical policy in Nigeria. So we cannot say that we are taking patient satisfaction lightly.”
“Our clientele base at the hospital every month has hit more than 30,000. If you compare with what we did in past years, we only saw about 5,000 patients about five or six years ago. But now we are hitting 30,000-plus every month. So can you beat that? We also have a lot of patient testimonies — positive ones.”
Muftau pointed out that the hospital organises routine attitudinal training for its staff, adding that the unfortunate incident will be thoroughly investigated.
When asked whether any disciplinary action has been taken against any of the health workers, Muftau said, “In civil service, you have to follow due process. Otherwise, you’re going to be at fault, because we don’t know how this case is going to go. So it must be seen that we follow due process, in case any staff \[member] is disciplined and takes the hospital to court. That is what we do in civil service.”