The Federal Medical Centre Jabi, Abuja, has launched an investigation into a viral video in which some accident victims brought by a good samaritan at the emergency unit was seen neglected by the hospital’s staff.
The hospital has previously been accused of sharp practices in the national health insurance scheme and procurement fraud.
In the footage widely circulated in the social media, the individual who transported the victims to the hospital could be heard rebuking the staff who appeared reluctant in attending to the unconscious patients after they cited a lack of gloves.
However, the video later showed some staff assisting one of the severely injured victims into the emergency ward, while other victims made their way in unaided.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing outrage and accusing tertiary hospitals of a pattern of medical negligence.
Reacting to the incident in a statement on Sunday, the hospital said it has instituted a probe on the directive of the Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako.
The hospital’s spokesperson, Obadiah Gana, said contrary to the claim of it staff at the emergency unit, preliminary findings showed that the department had adequate supply of gloves, resuscitation equipment, medications, trolleys, and wheelchairs at the time of the incident.
He said “Findings of the investigation will be made available to the public,”
He noted that the hospital management is committed to providing a full report of the investigation once it is completed.
Mr Gana reiterated the hospital’s commitment to transparency and patient care, noting that the facility operates an open-door policy and maintains multiple feedback channels, including telephone hotlines, QR codes, and email contacts prominently displayed throughout the hospital.
He also highlighted the hospital’s role as a referral centre for advanced procedures such as open-heart surgeries, kidney transplants, laser surgeries, and spinal interventions—services rarely available in public hospitals across the country.
“In addition to running a medical indigent fund to assist underprivileged patients with hospital bills, we have successfully treated numerous unconscious patients and safely returned them to their relatives with the help of our social workers,” he said.
“We apologise for any distress or discomfort caused and want to assure you that we take feedback seriously.”
