The President of Save A Life Foundation, Dr. Richard Okoye, has warned that the Federal Government’s decision to increase electricity tariffs in Nigeria would have devastating effects on the country’s healthcare system.
Dr. Okoye expressed his concerns after receiving a staggering N25,300,000 electricity bill for his hospital in Rivers State, attributing the increase to the new Band A tariff of N225 per kilowatt hour.
In a viral video, Dr. Okoye emphasised the critical role of electricity in healthcare delivery, stating, “Power (electricity) is the life of the healthcare delivery. Patients have hope and a sense of living again when the light is in the hospital.”
He highlighted the impact on essential services, including the storage of emergency and anaesthetic drugs, which require consistent temperature control provided by electricity.
Okoye also shared a distressing anecdote about a patient who was unable to sleep during a medical procedure due to the reduced potency of a drug caused by inadequate storage conditions resulting from power outages.
He warned that the tariff hike would lead to a scarcity of essential drugs and negatively impact surgical procedures, potentially resulting in antibiotic-resistant infections.
Calling for urgent government intervention, Dr. Okoye urged the Federal Government to reconsider the decision, emphasising the detrimental effects on hospitals and the health of Nigerians.
He lamented the downgrade of teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centers to Band B, further exacerbating the challenges faced by healthcare facilities.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission approved the tariff increase for Band A customers on April 3, leading to widespread concerns about the potential consequences for the healthcare sector.
