Kano Hospitals Board Fires 3, Suspends 3 Others Over Patients’ Extortion

Dr. Mansur Nagoda, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, has announced the dismissal of three staff members from Kabo General Hospital following allegations that they overcharged patients N12,000 for X-rays, contrary to the approved hospital rate of N2,000.

According to a statement released on Monday by Samira Suleiman, the Public Relations Officer of the Hospitals Management Board in Kano, the Board has also sanctioned the suspension of the hospital’s Accountant, Auditor, and Head of Laboratory for selling HIV test kits provided to health facilities by the state government.

The affected individuals have been instructed to report to the Board Headquarters for further disciplinary proceedings. Both punitive actions take immediate effect.

The personnel were apprehended during an unscheduled executive supervision visit to the hospital, led by Dr. Muhammad Abbas, the Director-General of the Kano State Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), and Dr. Usman Bashir, the Director-General of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SAKA).

Expressing dissatisfaction with the situation, Dr. Nagoda referred to the actions as sabotage. He stated, “Three personnel from the X-ray unit were caught charging patients N12,000 for X-rays, with no documentation of payment, despite the approved rate being N2,000. Additionally, the facility conducted fewer than 10 X-rays per week, despite having functional X-ray machines.”

Dr. Nagoda approved the immediate dismissal of the staff members for excessively extorting patients.

Furthermore, he noted the poor condition of the Labour Ward, citing the absence of bedsheets and compound officers. He emphasized that equipment donated to the facility, including those provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, were neglected.

“This misconduct must cease. Our decision serves as a warning to others. We have taken an oath, and we are committed to upholding it and cleansing the healthcare system,” he declared.

Dr. Nagoda urged all staff members to adhere to professional standards, warning that rigorous executive supervision is ongoing and anyone caught engaging in malpractice will face consequences.