The North-West Development Commission (NWDC) has commenced discussions with National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala on a partnership aimed at reducing the cost of healthcare by addressing the hospital’s operational challenges, particularly its energy needs.
Managing Director of the commission, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, disclosed this while receiving the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Isa Nurudeen, in Kano.
Professor Ma’aji said the commission would first conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of the hospital, especially its energy requirements for operating sophisticated medical equipment, before developing a partnership framework to support the facility.
According to him, the intervention is expected to reduce the hospital’s running and maintenance costs, thereby making specialised healthcare services more affordable for patients.
“As an intervention agency, we intend to assess the hospital’s operational requirements, particularly its energy needs, and develop an appropriate support framework. Once the operational cost is reduced, the benefits will naturally be reflected in lower service charges for patients,” he said.
The NWDC boss said the commission was also considering extending similar interventions to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital.
He explained that the three tertiary health institutions provide critical medical services not only to residents of the North-West but also to patients from other parts of Nigeria, making them strategic healthcare facilities deserving of support.
Professor Ma’aji said the proposed partnership would also include the training of technical personnel in the operation and maintenance of medical equipment to ensure that faults are addressed promptly without depending solely on foreign manufacturers.
He expressed optimism that strengthening the capacity of specialist hospitals in the region would improve healthcare delivery, reduce the need for Nigerians to seek medical treatment abroad and ultimately conserve foreign exchange while boosting the nation’s economy.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Dala Orthopaedic Hospital, Dr. Isa Nurudeen, said the hospital sought the commission’s intervention to address critical operational challenges affecting service delivery.
He identified energy supply as one of the hospital’s biggest challenges, particularly in powering its newly installed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine donated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
According to him, the sophisticated equipment requires uninterrupted electricity supply 24 hours a day to function effectively, a demand that has placed enormous financial pressure on the hospital because of high electricity tariffs and the rising cost of diesel.
He appealed to the commission to support the hospital in providing a sustainable alternative energy source capable of powering the MRI machine and other essential medical equipment.
Established in 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the North-West Development Commission is mandated to accelerate infrastructure development and address long-standing developmental challenges across the seven states of the North-West.
Its intervention areas include security, agriculture, healthcare, education, environmental protection, as well as women and youth development.