The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, has disconnected power supply to University College Hospital, UCH, in Ibadan, Oyo State, because of electricity debt, amounting to more than N400 million.
Checks indicated that supply was cut a few days ago following the inability of UCH Ibadan to settle its debts, reports Saturday Vanguard.
Chief Corporate Services Officer, IBEDC, Angela Olanrewaju, who confirmed the disconnection of the hospital, said: “We are very mindful of the essential services the hospital provides. The debt has increased to more than N400 million. The disconnection became inevitable because we have written four times and held several meetings with them without result.
We also served them many notices without response. We need to recover the debt to provide efficient services to our customers.”
Chief Medical Director, UCH, Ibadan, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, declined to make comments.
However, another source said that UTH has commenced negotiations, targeted at resolving the issue and restoring the power supply to the hospital.
Meanwhile, a source in the hospital said the entire operations in the hospital have been scuttled, especially as the inverter, which they depended on could not carry out intensive medical treatment, adding that a lot of planned operations have been canceled or rescheduled.
He predicted that the Radiology, mortuary and other vital departments in the hospital would likely suffer the most severe impacts, potentially compromising patient care and safety.
