UCTH doctors cry out over N200,000 maintenance levy

Doctors at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) have cried out over the sum of N200,000 they were told to pay as maintenance levy.

UCTH recently charged doctors the fee for the maintenance of accommodation at its House Officers’ Quarters.

UCTH confirmed the fee in a statement dated October 14, 2024, with the management of the hospital adding that intending occupants must pay.

The fee, which the teaching hospital described as an “Annual Maintenance Charge,” for which they will present evidence of payment to the Estate Unit has led to an outcry within the medical community, raising eyebrows about the financial burden on new medical professionals.

@Nigerian_Doctor in a post shared on its official X account on Thursday expressed concerns about the impact of this fee on new House Officers at UCTH.

“This Hospital is funded by the Federal Government and the accommodation is meant to be a free incentive to House Officers, just like other hospitals. It is unfair to ask new employees to cough up N200,000 before they have even earned a salary,” the post read.

“The doctors reportedly offered to pay the fee through monthly deductions from their salaries to reduce the financial burden, but this request was denied by the hospital management, leaving many new doctors stranded.

“We plead for an urgent investigation into this accommodation allocation fee, if not sanctioned by the Federal Government.

“However, if UCTH is following ‘order from above’, we plead for consideration of monthly deductions.”