The House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions, yesterday, expressed worry over the state of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), particularly as it concerns the 2024 budget expenditure.
 
Briefing newsmen in Benin during an oversight function by members of the committee to the UBTH, the Chairman of the committee, Patrick Umo, accompanied by the member representing  Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency in Edo State, Billy Osawaru, said the committee is set to open an investigation into the activities of the hospital, following several issues in its book, which necessitated their visit. 
 
Umo noted that the visit is not a witch-hunt but to perform its constitutional function and carry out a comprehensive audit of the 2023 and 2024 budgetary expenditure.

He said: “We are here to look at the book. We looked at the 2024 budget expenditure, the budget index, and we also looked at their projection for 2025.
 
“We have looked at the records, their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the Drug Revolving Fund and the nominal roll of the institution.
 
“Our report will be out in due course. We have to make our evaluations, looking at the books that were submitted, as well as the documentation; some are not as accurate as we would have expected.
 
“So, our report will be out when we sit down as an enlarged committee. We will get back to the hospital and tell them the areas they need to improve and show them the areas of weakness and strengths.”
 
Umo, who hailed the hospital for being one of the biggest tertiary health institutions in the country, emphasised the need for management to step up in terms of infrastructure, emergency response, and the payment system.
 
He urged the staff members to work harder to meet the demands of their patients and, indeed, those who need medical care.