University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital faces backlash over alleged poor healthcare services

• A netizen revealed that patients at UPTH are reportedly forced to consume substandard hospital meals at ₦2,000 per day
• He noted the poor facility maintenance, with an infestation of mosquitoes and overgrown grass contributing to an unsafe hospital environment
• The viral post has sparked widespread criticism and calls for an urgent review of UPTH’s policies and healthcare standards

The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has been criticised following a viral social media thread that exposed alarming conditions and severe lapses in patient care. 

A viral thread shared by an X user with the handle @BadonB detailed a six-month ordeal faced by his mother while admitted to the hospital, raising concerns about the quality of healthcare delivery at one of Nigeria’s leading tertiary medical centres.

The user’s experience began with a shock over UPTH's compulsory feeding policy. “Every patient is forced to eat hospital food,” @BadonB wrote, describing the meals as substandard and costing ₦2,000 per day. “This food is worse than what people in prison eat,” the user remarked, questioning why the hospital mandates patients consume its poorly prepared meals without an opt-out option.

Beyond the issue of compulsory feeding, the thread highlighted severe staffing and service delivery challenges. In several instances, the patient’s relatives were reportedly left to administer intravenous (IV) fluids and medications. 

“The workforce is overstretched. In some cases, patient relatives are the ones giving IV drugs,” the user noted, raising concerns about the safety and professionalism of such practices.

The narrative took a more serious turn with a series of surgery cancellations. 

According to the user, the patient’s surgery was rescheduled four times for various avoidable reasons. The first surgery was cancelled when a registrar failed to notice the patient was on contraindicated medication, discovered only on the morning of the procedure. A second cancellation occurred after a nurse mistakenly advised the patient to eat on the morning of the surgery, violating preoperative guidelines.

The third attempt was halted mid-procedure due to a sudden power outage, exposing the hospital’s lack of reliable backup power systems. The final cancellation happened because the surgical team was unavailable, attending a medical conference instead.

In a desperate bid to ensure his mother received the necessary care, the user opted to transfer her to a private hospital for the surgery before returning her to UPTH. 

The user lamented, “If I faced all these, spent over ₦6 million with all my doctor friends and connections, imagine what the common patient is going through.”

The account has sparked a wave of public outcry, with many calling for an urgent investigation into UPTH's operations. 

The narrative also drew attention to the deteriorating infrastructure at the hospital, with the user describing the environment as poorly maintained: “The numbers of mosquitoes in that place can carry you to the theatre. Very soon, snakes and rabbits will set IV lines as the height of grass everywhere is alarming.”

Public response and calls for action

The incident has reignited discussions about healthcare in Nigeria, especially in public hospitals. Many social media users expressed empathy, sharing similar stories of negligence and poor treatment at UPTH and other tertiary hospitals. 

@BenFavo9∅775591 said: “UPTH is the worst health facility among the ones I have visited. There response rate is 0, nothing to write home about, the species of mosquitoes they bread in that hospital is bad enough to take you to an untimely death, or is it paying before a patient's wound is dressed.”

@Dorishoma1 wrote: “Yes is pathetic and I sincerely feel your pain, even as a worker there it's not really easy especially the over stretched staff due to "japa syndrome"but I do not agree with you that patient relatives give I.V drugs. Mention the ward and month lets take it up from there. Thanks.”

@Quickvengence commented: “I had same experience when my Dad was admitted in April..like you said...their food is worse than a pigs meal...I practically went to them to stop the feeding and someone was busy in that department marking that my dad was fed...These guys are just jokers.”

@qroniqls expressed: “That’s a federal institution. Let the health minister do something about this and other health institutions nationwide.” @enodamade I want to believe FMC doesn’t dish out this prison grade chow to patients.

@CheeniJ said: “64 years post Colonialism, this is the Nigeria Nigerians can build. What a shame.”

@lekside34 replied: “You cannot but just weep for the entity called Nigeria. This is absolutely ridiculous and shameful. Each year we have billions allocated to the federal ministry of health and nothing to show but billions are spent on cars across all ministries. This is so shameful.. 😭💔”

@betacuntri commented: “Anything government in Nigeria, forget quality service.”

@im_tolumichael expressed: “No no, this is very terrible and embarrassing. Unfortunately this is almost everywhere in parts of the country. Disorganisation and recklessness is fast becoming features in most public sectors.”

@TheRealAquah said: “Shey na hospital be this abi crim!nals hideout?”

@zamzy_zamora replied: “You see that food part, I still can’t make any sense out of it, when I took my exes brother to rehab there, he didn’t eat their food, I was taking food to him every morning and evening, then pay a food vendor for lunch, discharge day, these people knack me bill for food🤣”

The situation at UPTH underscores a broader crisis in Nigeria’s public healthcare sector, where underfunding, poor management, and inadequate staffing continue to impact patient outcomes. 

The incident shared by @BadonB is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to restore public confidence in the healthcare system.

Lagos plans to become West Africa’s medical tourism hub, says Commissioner

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, had announced the state’s commitment to becoming a top destination for medical tourism in Nigeria and West Africa.

He noted that this included bold steps to improve the health sector through innovation and technology.