The management of the Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo, has called on the public to utilise its SERVICOM Unit for clarification of technical healthcare matters.

The call, as noted by The Guardian, was necessitated by allegations of extortion and unethical charges circulating on social media across the state.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Aisha Shehu Adamu, told journalists in the state that the SERVICOM Unit is responsible for providing information, receiving complaints, and ensuring prompt resolution of issues. It emphasised that the channel exists to guarantee that concerns are addressed accurately and professionally.

The management stated that the use of structured service-based consumable packs, such as admission packs, dressing packs, delivery kits, and procedure-specific bundles, is a globally accepted practice and not an act of exploitation.

According to the statement, the system is widely used in modern healthcare to enhance safety, efficiency, and accountability. It added that the approach is also adopted by leading tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

The hospital explained that service packs help standardise care, reduce treatment delays, and relieve patients’ relatives of the stress of sourcing medical supplies during emergencies. It noted that the packs are sterile, single-use, and essential for infection prevention, particularly for diseases such as Lassa fever.

Management further stated that the system promotes transparency by providing clearer cost expectations for patients, while also improving inventory management, reducing waste, and strengthening accountability.

On concerns over charges for certain procedures, the hospital clarified that services such as catheter insertion, nasogastric tube placement, and assisted feeding require skilled personnel, sterile consumables, and strict adherence to medical standards. It noted that the charges reflect the cost of delivering such services in a resource-constrained environment.

While acknowledging the economic realities patients face, the management assured that the pricing and composition of service packs are under continuous review to ensure fairness and accessibility.

It urged the public to seek clarification through official channels before drawing conclusions, warning that unverified claims could erode confidence in healthcare institutions and discourage people from seeking necessary medical care.