By Onyekachi Eze
The era of private operators running government owned health facilities may be put to stop in Imo State if developing events in the State health sector is considered. This is a result of a proposed meeting between the Imo State Government and the concerned operators.The Rescue Mission administration of former governor Rochas Okorocha saw some government owned hospitals and health centres handed over to private operators under concession arrangement.Apparently determined to strengthen the health sector in Imo State, the Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma will have an interface with all concessionaires of hospitals across the State, which this newspaper learnt may not be unconnected with the plot to either scrap the private operator show or scrap some concessionaires in the system.This was made clear in a broadcast signed by the Imo Government calling on all persons concerned to assemble at the State Ministry of Health, Owerri, on a date scheduled for talks about the health facilities under their care.Trumpeta learnt that some of the operators whose approaches are not in tandem with the 3R program of Uzodinmma may be asked to go while those that have been inactive stand to be shoved aside.A cursory study by Trumpeta discovered that despite the handover of the hospital premises to some of the operators few years ago, no medical activity is going on while some have been transformed to other programs of events not related to the purpose of medical practice. Among the concessioned were over fourteen General hospitals, out of the twenty-seven built across the 27 LGAs of Imo.Since then, the hospitals have been managed under the Public Private Partnership, PPP arrangement.However, his successor, Senator Uzodimma is up to either continue from where he stopped, or have the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU terminated or amended to suit in the present day condition.Trumpeta Newspaper learnt that, from the tone of the announcement released on Tuesday, concessionaires of the 14 Hospitals are to report at the State Secretariat, Owerri, with documents of the deed of contracts.It reads, “Under the previous administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, fourteen of the twenty seven uncompleted hospitals built with Imo State Government funds were concessioned to institutions and organisations. “The management of these concessioned hospitals are required to meet with the Commissioner for Health, Imo State at the State Secretariat, Owerri on Thursday 3rd March 2022 – Time 11am prompt”.Although no actual reason for the call was raised in the press statement, but feelers has it that it may not be unconnected to the restrengthening of the health sector in Imo State.Again, docile ones might loose out to Government if the fresh conditions are not favourable to them.Among the concessioned General Hospitals in the State with names of beneficiaries are;1. General Hospital Umundugba- Claritan University Educational Foundation.2. General Hospital Umuchima – Nigeria Police Force.3. General Hospital Okigwe – International Health Care Consulting.4.General Hospital Obinze- Nigeria Army.5. General Hospital Okporo – Orlu United Medical Inc.6.General Hospital Orieubi – International Health Care Consulting.7.General Hospital Old Ogwa- Anglican Diocese of Owerri.8.General Hospital Egbema- International Health Care Consulting.9.General Hospital Agballa, Owerri North – Nigeria Airforce Hospital Owerri.10. General Hospital Ngor Okpala- Nigeria Navy.11.General Hospital Ikeduru – Imo International Health Systems.12.General Hospital Obowo – Lord’s Chosen Charismatic.13.General Hospital Umuezeala – Anglican Diocese of Okigwe South.14.General Hospital Amaraku – Galilee Educational & Health Foundation.It would be recalled also that at the last stakeholders meeting Governor Uzodimma held with Imolites at the Eze Imo Palace, he reiterated his administration’s resolve to imbibe the PPP arrangement in critical areas, so as to meet up with the demand.This, therefore, could be a step towards actually the goal, by first starting with having a meeting with concessionaires of hospitals in the State, through the Commissioner for Health.
