Public Hospitals To Enjoy 50% Electricity Subsidy

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced on Thursday that the Federal Government has approved the 50 per cent electricity subsidy for public hospitals.

According to him, this was to help in reduction of the running costs for public hospitals and resolve its impact on patients.

Alausa disclosed this at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, where he unveiled the electronic health records and an alternative power supply source at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex and the solarisation project at the dialysis unit, which includes a solar-powered borehole.

Adelabu, however, said the government would not subsidise private businesses operating in these universities and hospitals.

The minister disclosed that the government was aware that universities and hospitals are having challenges paying the bills and the was planning to meter all businesses running in each of the institutions to prevent paying subsidies to private businesses.

“We know they are development institutions, they are social institutions. But inside the health and educational institutions, private businesses are hiding under them. These people charge their customers commercially and they expect to be subsidised because they are located within the territories of these institutions.

“We said no, go and do a proper search and meter everybody. For the ones that are properly health and education-related, we are ready to subsidise them, even if they are on Band A. We are compiling our data, DisCos will collect a certain amount and the government will pay the balance. But we must get the data right so that we are not subsidising a private business that is charging its customers commercially. That will be an abnormal profit and it is unfair,” he stated.