The chief medical director of the National Hospital, Abuja, Muhammad Mahmud, says the hospital is seeking a public-private funding model to function optimally.

Mr Mahmud spoke on Monday in Abuja at a news briefing to commemorate the hospital’s 25th anniversary.

He said that hospitals do not have to depend on the government to fund their projects fully, so private funding should augment what the hospitals get.

“PPP should come in. From our banks to some financial institutions within the country, that would be an easier access of funding into the health care sector. We can also collaborate with funding sources out of the country to do that, this PPP could be also public-private, or even private-private funding.

“So, the National Hospital is also looking seriously into such funding and looking for outside donors or philanthropists to assist. With this, we are also calling on Nigerians who are well-to-do, or in position to come to the aid of each of our hospitals and most especially National Hospital because it is the pride of the country,” he said.

Mr Mahmud said most of the hospital’s revenue goes into power generation, adding that many of the hospital’s equipment must be on electricity 24 hours a day to avert casualties.

He, however, said the recent intervention by the government, reducing electricity tariffs by 50 per cent for hospitals, was commendable and a welcome development.

On the alleged suspension of service to National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) subscribers, he said that the hospital has never stopped treating NHIA patients.

He added that 70 per cent of the hospital’s patients were subscribers to NHIA.

However, Mr Mahmud said there were some complaints about the subscribers’ tariffs or premiums as they do not reflect the times.

According to him, the premium paid by the subscribers was not reviewed for 12 years while the prices of commodities and services had increased.

Mr Mahmud said, “So, we have never, ever pushed NHIA patients away.”

(NAN)