Story Summary:
- Private Hospitals Lament High Electricity Costs: Private medical practitioners in Nigeria are expressing concern over the rising electricity tariffs affecting their operations.
- Call for Government Support: The Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP) has appealed to the Federal Government to extend its 50% electricity tariff subsidy to private hospitals, requesting a 75%-100% subsidy.
- Energy Costs Strain Operations: ANPMP President Dr. Kayode Adesola highlighted that over 40% of private hospitals’ overhead costs are spent on energy, leaving many facilities financially strained.
- Private Hospitals Play Key Role: ANPMP emphasized that private hospitals provide about 70% of the country’s healthcare services but are excluded from the current government subsidy for public hospitals.
- Risk of Closures: Rising operational costs and brain drain have forced many private hospitals to close, with the ANPMP warning of further closures without government support.
Private medical practitioners across Nigeria have raised concerns over the crippling effect of rising electricity tariffs on their operations, urging the Federal Government to extend its electricity tariff subsidy to private hospitals. The appeal comes in response to the government’s recent decision to provide a 50% electricity subsidy exclusively for public hospitals, leaving private healthcare facilities struggling under escalating energy costs.
Dr. Kayode Adesola, National President of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), lamented the heavy financial burden that energy costs impose on private hospitals. “Over 40% of our overheads go towards energy provision, whether from DISCOs or self-generated power. This is unsustainable and has left many private healthcare facilities under severe financial strain,” Dr. Adesola said in a statement.
The ANPMP stressed that private hospitals play a crucial role in Nigeria’s healthcare system, providing about 70% of the country’s health services. Yet, they are excluded from the recently introduced subsidy. Dr. Adesola noted that if the government can offer a 50% electricity subsidy to public hospitals, private hospitals should receive an even higher subsidy—between 75% and 100%—to compensate for the greater percentage of services they provide.
“Private hospitals have been serving Nigerians for over 103 years, and now, with rising operational costs and the ongoing brain drain, many are at risk of shutting down,” said Dr. Debo Adebiyi, ANPMP Secretary. “Without government support, the healthcare system will continue to lose essential services, forcing more facilities to close.”
The rising cost of electricity has been a common grievance among both private hospitals and educational institutions, especially following the Federal Government’s announcement of a 50% subsidy under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP). This subsidy, however, only covers federal institutions, including 37 universities and seven teaching hospitals, leaving private institutions without relief.
The ANPMP urged the government to ensure fairness and equity by extending the electricity subsidy to private hospitals to maintain their affordability and accessibility, especially as many Nigerians rely on private healthcare and pay out-of-pocket for services.
