GUIDE TO NIGERIAN (PUBLIC) HOSPITALS. PART 2

So, where were we?
Ah! Yes, I remember.

So, now you have been adequately debriefed, a few further things to note about processes:

1.APPOINTMENTS:
What did you say? You call to make appointments with your doctor? For real? Hahaha, but seriously, why would you do that when you can easily stroll into our public hospitals and get an appointment. Yes, I said stroll. You would get the appointment immediately – to see the doctor in six months to one year’s time. Why are you surprised? Don’t you know that the ratio of Doctors to patients in Nigeria is about 1 doctor to 3500 patients

2.RECORDS.
Your records are very safe with us, you have nothing to fear. Why do you look sceptical?Alright come with me and take a look – come into this room – what’s that in your hair, cobwebs? sorry about that. Look at that tower of files over there with papers sticking out and falling off, those are the files. Where are the computers? That is one over there, but please be careful not to close the records officer’s facebook page.

3. INSURANCE
Do we have health insurance and free health care? Yes we do. I’m sure you have heard all the jingles on the radio. It’s actually free for you to get registered and obtain a file number. What else were you expecting? Isn’t that free enough?

4.TESTS AND RESULTS
Urgent tests are treated urgently, we don’t play with that. Once the technician resumes tomorrow morning, your test will be done urgently.

5. REFERRALS
We run a world class referral system; all our hospitals work together, we all know each other’s addresses, when we can’t handle a problem, we will send to another hospital, from where you would be sent to another hospital, from there, you would still be sent to another hospital…

TO BE CONTINUED?