Health unions faults reinstatement of Owerri FMC mgt

Health workers under the aegis of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Assembly of Health Care Professionals have disagreed with the federal government over the  reinstatement of the management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri.

 

The Federal Ministry of Health had last Tuesday directed the substantive management of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, led by the medical director of the hospital, Dr. Angela Uwakwem to resume duty immediately.

Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who gave the directive also announced the dissolution of the Interim Management Team (IMT) the ministry had set up to administer the hospital for six months and restore clinical services.

 

According to the National Chairman (JOHESU) Comrade Biobelemoye  Josiah,  Uwakwem’s reinstatement was to enable her destroy factual evidence that could be used against her in the on-going criminal proceedings in the court.

He said the medical director was on 11th October 2016 charged to court at the State High Court, Owerri on an 18 count charge, and that she could not be arraigned because of the absence of a judge, and the case was adjourned to November 15, 2016 for arraignment.

 

Josiah said Uwakwem who has an 18 count charge against her by the EFCC was sent on compulsory leave based on allegations of high handness, fraud and outright stealing.

 

The unions called on the federal government to suspend Dr Uwakwem and direct an investigation on the Federal Ministry of Health in the cover up saga.

 

It would be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Health had placed Dr Uwakwem and her management on administrative leave on 25th December, 2015 and set up interim administration to oversee the affairs of the institution and do a staff audit to ensure proper restoration of services.  

 

Announcing the temporary closure of the facility on 16th December, 2015, Minister of health , Prof. Isaac Adewole  had said that the crisis at the hospital began in April 2015 when the medical director of the hospital, Dr. Angela Uwakwem forwarded a proposal on the introduction of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in some revenue generating units of the hospital to the top management committee, in order to entrench accountability and increase the revenue base of the hospital.

 

Prof Adewole said the proposal was vehemently opposed by people who may have been benefitting from the system and went on to incite the unions, adding that the federal government is fully in support of PPP especially in the health sector.

He said the fact finding committee set up by government exonerated the medical director from allegations leveled against her and the government recalled her, which sparked off another round of protests from the union which insisted she must go.

While announcing the dissolution of the Interim Management Team (IMT), Ehanire said despite efforts of the team, FMC Owerri has been unable to regain its stature or perform to its potential, whereas it was previously the celebrated hospital in the entire state.

The minister urged all members of staff at the hospital to cooperate with the management and abide by the law saying that any person unable to accept the decision was free, and encouraged, to tender their resignation or apply for retirement. 

However, the unions said they are not against public private partnership at the hospital as alleged by the minister. 

Dr Okara of Assembly of Health Care Professionals said FMC Owerri is not the only hospital in Nigeria where PPP was proposed adding that  there were led down rules to ensure  proper  utilization of PPP in organizations. 

He said the way forward is for the federal government to listen to the unions because for every employer and employee relationship the employer has to listen to the employee in order to resolve the problem.

According to him, when the federal government listens to the unions and the staff all misunderstandings will be clarified and understood by both sides and resolve the issue.