As condemnations continues to trail the death of a Higher National Diploma, HND student of the Yaba college of Technology, Lagos who was rejected by the management of the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta because of her inability to pay an initial deposit of N35,000 which led to her death, the Federal Ministry of Health has set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the matter.

The deceased student, Miss Charity Muatin Dazan who died about two weeks ago was a student of Yabatech, OTM Bilingual.

It was gathered that the deceased who was brought into the hospital in a critical condition was rejected by the hospital management because she could not pay the sum of N35,000 as part payment before the commencement of treatment on her by the hospital.

The panel of enquiry, which began sitting at FMC Ebute Metta yesterday, is headed by the Senior Consultant Doctor, FMC one Dr. (Mrs.) Okudiafor.

Meanwhile, a source at the hospital has diclosed that the medical director of the hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Yewande Jinadu had earlier issued a stern warning to the nurses and doctors as part of her policies not to attend to any patient brought in without at least deposits of N30,000.

It was gathred that as at the time the deceased was brought to the hospital, one Dr. (Mrs.) Osude was the one on duty, but because of the standing order of deposit of some amount of money before commencement of treatment, the doctor rejected the sick lady brought by her co-students.
However, while the students were taking the deceased to another hospital in the neighbourhood, she gave up the ghost, a situation, which infuriated her colleagues who stormed the place in annoyance and threatened to destroy assets at the hospital.
But, when the hospital management sensed danger, the management immediately ordered the Head of Medical Records, one Mrs. Akinfenwas to immediately open a file for the deceased student in the hospital and entered series of medical tests carried out on the deceased, but which were never conducted on her.

One of the colleagues of the student who identified himself as Collins insisted that if Charity had been accepted in the hospital, she would have still remained alive.
Collins could not however say the cause of the ailement, but said she was vomiting and showed sign of weakness before being brought to the hospital.
He said, “I was one of those who took Charity to the hospital from Yabatech on the said day, but when we got here they demanded for the sum of N35,000 before they could commence treatment on her. We promised them that the money would be brought and that they should help us save her life first, but all pleas were rejected by those on duty then. In fact, they claimed that they have been ordered not to give any first aid to any seek patient without deposit.
“However, when we saw that our appeals to them would not be entertained, we decided to take her to another hospital, but on our way, she died. The fact still remains that if the hospital had given her attention, she would not have died.
But, Jinadu in a text message on the issue debunked the claim that she gave out the rules for rejection of patients brought to the hospital without money.
She also said that she was on leave when the incident happened.
She said, “I did not give rules to reject patients. One cannot reject patients. The hospital did it best for the young lady. Unfortunately, a few persons have worsened the pain of Charity’s relatives and friends. Incidentally, I was on leave.”

confirming the setting up of the enquiry, one of the senior managers of the hospital, Mr. Harrison Etim disclosed that the panel of enquiry on the issue set up by the federal government commenced sitting yesterday at the hospital.