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From Isaac Job, Uyo
A medical doctor and Head of Pharmacy at the Cottage Hospital Ukana in Essien Udim local government area of Akwa Ibom are to face disciplinary committee of the state Ministry of Health over administrative and professional breaches in the health facility.
The invitation of the two health officials followed the briefing by the Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Ekong Etiebet to the Commissioner of Health Dr Ekem Emmanuel John during inspection visit to the hospital recently .
The Commissioner with his team including Permanent Secretary , Hospital Management Board Dr Abraham Inyangudo, Permanent Secretary Akwa Ibom Health Insurance Agency Dr Arthur Igbemi, and directors from the Ministry of Health and Hospitals Management Board visited the hospital and discovered administrative and professional breaches culminating to the summon of the doctor and Head of Pharmacy unit of the hospital.
According to the Commissioner,
The Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Ekong Joseph Etiebiet, formally briefed him and members of the inspection team on series of administrative and professional breaches uncovered at the facility.
John said the inspection visit was predicated on intelligence reports submitted by the Ministry of Health’s Ombudsman Unit- a public complaints unit set up to track and resolve complaints against health workers across the state after the declaration of a state of emergency in the health sector by Governor Umo Eno.
He said the medical superintendent of the hospital Dr Etiebiet explained that one of the doctors attached to the hospital, Dr Matthias Etim was absent from duty while on duty call and subsequently failed to respond to official queries issued in line with civil service regulations.
“On the 19th of December 2025, I issued a formal query to Dr Matthias Etim following his absence from duty while on call duty which prompted the complaint to the Public Complaint lines of the Ministry of Health
“He blatantly declined to respond. Following this, the Hospital Management Board requested clarification, after which a second query was issued. That too was ignored.”
John said based on the briefing and documentary evidence presented, the Honourable Commissioner directed that the doctor appear before the Senior Staff Management Committee of the Hospitals Management Board for interrogation and appropriate disciplinary action.
“We need the report of the Committee on this matter before the end of next week,” the Commissioner directed.
During a tour of key departments—including wards, theatres, surgical records and the pharmacy—the inspection team also uncovered significant lapses in pharmaceutical accounting and inventory management.
The Commissioner said during interrogations, the pharmacy unit was unable to produce basic statutory records, including stock registers, inventory logs and indebtedness records.
Reacting to the findings, the Health Commissioner expressed concern over financial inconsistencies revealed during the inspection.
“We have been shown records which by a mere casual examination, already raises serious red flags
“The level of impunity with which a few of our staff operate is inimical to our goal towards health systems strengthening initiatives of the Pastor Umo Eno administration.
“Of course, we won’t let such examples of misconduct fester or abound.”
Consequently, the Commissioner ordered for immediate redeployment of the pharmacist heading the unit to another government facility, pending further administrative review.
John also announced far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in government health facilities across Akwa Ibom State.
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He explained that the inspection was part of preparations for full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) in the health sector.
John disclosed that beginning from January 2026, pastor Umo Eno has launched the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy .
“It is with immediate implementation in all government MDAs including health facilities.”
He said by Mid-January 2026, all prices for medications, surgical services and other hospital service charges would be standardized and made uniform across all government hospitals.
“A patient should not pay ₦70,000 for a procedure in one government hospital and ₦150,000 for the same service in another.
“Uniform pricing will eliminate overbilling and protect patients,” he said.
According to him, an official schedule of approved hospital charges would be published in the coming days.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the State Governor pastor Umo Eno has ordered the immediate revitalization and re-activation of the State Central Medical Store .
“All government hospitals would henceforth source drugs exclusively from the State Central Medical Store, bringing an end to procurement from external vendors.
“It will be an offence for any government hospital to purchase drugs outside the approved supply chain.
“The Central Medical Stores gets its supplies directly from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and that alone immediately yields two significant benefits among others.
Firstly, it eliminates fake and sun-standard drugs from our hospitals.
Secondly it offers our patients the cheapest possible drug pricing.
“Medical Superintendents are expected to strengthen internal monitoring mechanisms, including the use of structured communication platforms for staff engagement and oversight”.
The Commissioner further hinted that while the current measures were corrective, persistent violations would attract severe sanctions in line with public service rules.
“Our objective is to restore integrity, efficiency and public confidence in our health facilities.
“Where misconduct persists, the system will respond firmly no matter whose ox is gored,” the Commissioner concluded.
