A health worker allegedly refused to accept a bank transfer to pay for the oxygen service, insisting on cash only after a pregnant woman, identified as Aisha Najamu, passed away at the Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Maternity and Children Hospital in Katsina State.
The unfortunate incident took place on Monday when the victim arrived at the hospital in a critical condition that required urgent oxygen support.
According to an eyewitness, the cashier on duty reportedly declined to issue a receipt or process payment because the deceased had no cash in hand, in accordance with the hospital’s internal policy prohibiting transfers.
The cashier claimed that the man who attempted to intervene pleaded with the cashier to accept a transfer so that the woman could be treated, but the cashier argued that staff members were required to abide by the hospital’s policy and that the woman’s staff was required to follow the directive.
The witness claimed that the cashier had declined because he had offered to pay an additional fee out of sympathy and later presented a $100 note to cover the cost.
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He did, however, describe the scene as being “deeply distressing,” claiming that the woman pleaded for assistance until about 11:30 p.m.
Although Turai Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hospital’s management, when contacted, claimed they had not yet received a formal complaint from the public regarding the matter, despite their use of the human rights advocacy group IHRAAC.
Cashier Aminu Kofar-Bai, the hospital’s representative, regrettably expressed condolences and promised to see the family and look into any medical personnel who had been found to be incompetent.
Hospital officials argued that the TSA regulations for the Katsina State Government forbid transfers into personal accounts, and that their payment policy was defended.
They added that cash payments are the only method of payment at the hospital because it doesn’t have any POS machines.
Additionally, they lamented the lack of medical oxygen, which they claimed they frequently purchased from Daura LGA.
Usman Salisu Wada, the head of pharmacy, acknowledged that oxygen is limited but that the employee “may have overadhered” to the policy out of fear of being accused of misconduct.
Wada noted that many hospital patients who receive assistance for troubled patients end up defaulting on their bills.
Source: Channels TV
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