Abuja – Professor Saad Ahmed, Medical Director of the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abuja, on Saturday highlighted critical challenges facing the hospital during an interview with journalists following his presentation to the Senate Committee on Health.
Addressing the press, after 2026 budget presentation before the Senate, Prof. Ahmed said the 2025 budget faced delays in fund releases, though warrants have begun arriving.
He noted that 70 percent of 2025 capital allocations would roll over into 2026, but overhead costs—including electricity and diesel—remain a major burden on hospital operations.
“We pleaded with the Senate Committee to consider how they can assist in easing these overheads to sustain the quality of services we provide,” he said.
Prof. Ahmed also raised concerns over the mobilization of medical graduates for housemanship, a critical period of hands-on training before the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.
He explained that federal hospitals are currently unable to accommodate all newly graduated doctors due to limited quotas based on hospital capacity, number of specialists, and facilities. He called for state and private hospitals to be integrated into a centralized system to expand opportunities for graduates.
The FMC Abuja MD further addressed recent public concerns regarding a cobra bite case. “Our tertiary hospitals are well-prepared for emergencies,” he stated.
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“The patient presented over two hours after the bite, which limited the effectiveness of anti-snake venom, although she received two doses promptly upon arrival. Unfortunately, the delay resulted in systemic envenomation, leading to her death. All emergency protocols were followed, and our staff were fully on ground,” he added.
Prof. Ahmed extended condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasized that the incident serves as a wake-up call for hospitals to maintain readiness for emergencies.
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