By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
Major federal health investments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda have significantly strengthened services at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), even as acute manpower shortages, crushing energy costs and funding delays continue to strain operations across Nigeria’s tertiary healthcare system.
This stark balance of progress and pressure emerged at the 2026 budget defence, where the Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu, briefed the Senate Committee on Health on the hospital’s performance, challenges and future direction.
Addressing Lawmakers after the budget defense session chaired by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Prof. Ize-Iyamu acknowledged that targeted federal interventions had delivered critical upgrades to UBTH’s diagnostic and treatment capacity, positioning the hospital as a rising referral centre in the South-South.
However, she warned that without urgent structural solutions, systemic weaknesses could blunt the impact of these investments.
Top among the threats, she said, is the worsening shortage of medical personnel driven by the mass emigration of healthcare workers, popularly called the “Japa syndrome.”
“The manpower crisis is our most urgent challenge,” she told the committee. “It is not unique to UBTH. Teaching hospitals across the country are losing doctors, nurses and specialists faster than they can be replaced.”
According to her, the problem is compounded by the rapid exit of newly trained doctors shortly after qualification, creating a revolving door that leaves hospitals understaffed and overstretched.
To plug the gap, UBTH have proposed the temporary re-engagement of retired but highly experienced medical professionals through special waivers, allowing them to return to service while younger personnel are trained.
Beyond staffing, Prof. Ize-Iyamu described electricity costs as a silent drain on hospital finances, with heavy reliance on diesel-powered generators pushing operating expenses to unsustainable levels.
She revealed that the Senate Committee advised the hospital to explore partnerships with the Rural Electrification Board to cut energy costs and improve power stability.
She also raised concerns over delays in the release of overhead and capital project funds, stressing that unpredictable disbursements disrupt planning and execution.
Nonetheless, she expressed optimism that the committee’s intervention would improve funding timelines.
Despite the challenges, the UBTH CMD pointed to tangible gains delivered through direct federal support.
She disclosed that the hospital recently received a fully equipped cancer treatment centre, commissioned in July 2025 by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare on behalf of President Tinubu.
The facility places UBTH among only six centres nationwide offering comprehensive oncology services.
In another major boost, she revealed that UBTH is one of just three hospitals in Nigeria equipped with a 160-slice CT scan machine.
The advanced diagnostic equipment was commissioned in November 2025 through a collaboration between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of Japan.
“These interventions are not symbolic,” Prof. Ize-Iyamu said. “They are clear demonstrations of the President’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health system.”
She thanked President Tinubu for what she described as “giant strides” in the sector, noting that the new facilities have already begun to transform diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes.
The CMD also acknowledged that recent industrial actions disrupted services, leading to reduced patient turnout and a dip in internally generated revenue.
She expressed relief that the disputes have been resolved and that normal hospital operations have fully resumed.
Looking ahead, Prof. Ize-Iyamu said UBTH is being repositioned as a one-stop centre for comprehensive healthcare delivery in the South-South, with oncology, advanced diagnostics and specialist services as core pillars.
She revealed that the hospital is intensifying community sensitisation campaigns to ensure indigent patients access the federal cancer fund, with outreach programmes extending to churches, markets and other public spaces.
In a further sign of institutional expansion, she announced that the Edo State Government has pledged ₦2.5 billion for the construction of a dedicated children’s centre at UBTH, with groundwork expected to begin within the year.
“We are planning projects that will impact children, women and men across all disease categories,” she said. “UBTH are moving forward, and we are committed to delivering improved health outcomes for Nigerians.”
Prof. Ize-Iyamu commended the Minister of Health and Social Welfare and members of the Senate Committee on Health for their engagement and support, reaffirming the hospital’s determination to fully maximise recent investments—even as it battles the deep-rooted challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
As lawmakers weigh budget figures and policy options, the UBTH briefing laid bare a central reality: while new facilities are saving lives, the future of tertiary healthcare may ultimately depend on whether Nigeria can keep its healers at home.
