Somolu General Hospital denies fund mismanagement allegations

Somolu General Hospital in Lagos has dismissed allegations of poor fund utilisation and lack of accountability in the management of its indigent healthcare scheme, insisting that the programme is being administered with transparency and due process.

The hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Mustapha Quadri, stated this in a response to concerns raised by Human Rights Monitoring Agenda Global Resource Initiative.

Quadri said the indigent fund, provided by Somolu Local Government, is managed through a structured system coordinated by the Social Welfare Department, which applies socio-economic assessment protocols and documented referrals to determine eligibility.

He said, “I wish to respectfully clarify that the indigent fund scheme at our hospital has been implemented with a high level of diligence, transparency, and accountability.

“There is a structured framework in place to identify genuinely indigent patients… through established socio-economic assessment protocols or written referrals.”

He added that all disbursements are properly recorded and subject to periodic internal reviews, with reports made available to relevant authorities.

Addressing specific claims by HURMA, the Medical Director rejected assertions regarding the size of the fund and alleged complaints by stakeholders.

He said, “It is important to note that there was never a time the fund was up to two million naira (₦2m) as stated in the letter.

“There was also never a time a Comrade Monsur Akinyemi visited the Welfare Department for any sort of complaints.”

According to him, the hospital has remained open to oversight and engagement aimed at improving the scheme.

Quadri also disputed claims about the origin of the scheme, explaining that the intervention was initiated by hospital management and later supported by the local government.

“The monthly health/media intervention scheme was never initiated by HURMA.

“The former Chairman of Somolu Local Government, AbdulHameed Salau, bought the idea when management sold it to him. The fund was recently increased to ₦3m by the current chairman, Lateef Ashimi,” he stated.

On allegations that indigent patients were denied care or medications, the hospital described such claims as inaccurate.

“The hospital dispenses available drugs to indigent patients under the scheme, free of charge. The hospital does not chase away indigent patients; rather, the medical social welfare department uses a template to decide who is actually indigent to avoid abuse,” Quadri said.

He, however, acknowledged operational pressures, citing rising patient numbers and referrals beyond the scheme’s scope as factors that could create misconceptions about efficiency.

“These challenges are systemic and not due to a lack of transparency or commitment on the part of the hospital,” he said.

The Medical Director also raised concerns about documentation requirements, noting that aspects of the existing reporting format, such as including patients’ names alongside ailments, could conflict with medical confidentiality standards under the Hippocratic Oath.

While criticising what he described as premature allegations, Quadri maintained that the hospital remains open to collaboration with civil society groups.

“We remain fully committed to continuous improvement, including more frequent stakeholder briefings, provision of dedicated cards for beneficiaries, a dedicated medication shelf for the scheme and improved public communication,” he said.

He added that all patients treated at the facility are captured within an electronic medical records system to ensure proper documentation and continuity of care.

Quadri reiterated the hospital’s willingness to engage further with HURMA to address outstanding concerns and strengthen the delivery of the indigent fund for vulnerable residents.