The Ekiti State Government on Friday announced the dismissal of the surgeon, who led the surgical operation on a patient whose kidneys were removed, from the service of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) with immediate effect.
The government also suspended other members of the surgical team for one month, pending further administrative review.
This followed the submission of the reports of the seven-member panel to the state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Oyebanji Filani.
The panel, chaired by Francis Faduyile, a professor, was constituted 11 days ago to investigate the claim made by a patient, Joshua Afolayan, regarding a surgical procedure he underwent at EKSUTH.
Mr Filani said in a statement that the government approved the recommendation of the panel to dismiss the surgeon, whose name he did not disclose.
He said, “Upon careful review of the report and its recommendations, the Ekiti State Government has approved the following actions:
“That the surgeon who had primary responsibility for the surgery is to be dismissed from the service of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) with immediate effect.
“All members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the operation are to be suspended from duty for a period of one month, pending further administrative review.
“The Ekiti State Government will bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Mr. Joshua Afolayan and will also take responsibility for his post-transplant care and transplant-related medical maintenance for a period of two years.
“In line with the recommendations of the Panel, a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH will be undertaken to strengthen clinical governance, accountability, and patient safety.”
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The commissioner said that while the government continues to stand firmly behind the many dedicated and hardworking health professionals at EKSUTH and acknowledges their sacrifices and commitment to service, it would not hesitate to take decisive action where professional standards are breached.
“The government remains resolute in its commitment to protecting patients, upholding ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery, and restoring and sustaining public confidence in the Ekiti State health system.
“Necessary reforms will be pursued to ensure that incidents of this nature do not recur and that EKSUTH continues to serve as a centre of excellence in patient care.
“We thank the people of Ekiti State for their patience, and trust, and we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to continued improvement in quality health care, compassion, and responsible governance,” he said.
Organ harvesting is a growing menace in Nigeria and across the world. Perpetrators have been found to target the organs of the dead and the living, prompting many countries to strengthen their laws to address gaps in their legal framework.
