By Prosper Mene
Comfort, a victim of a hit-and-run accident, is now struggling with a N5 million medical bill for life-saving surgery after a hospital allegedly neglected her initial treatment due to an unpaid N150,000 deposit. The incident, which has sparked outrage, showcases the dire consequences of financial barriers in accessing timely healthcare.
According to Comfort, she was rushed to the hospital following the accident, but the facility refused to commence treatment without the N150,000 upfront payment. Unable to pay immediately, her condition worsened, escalating from a treatable injury to a critical state requiring complex surgery costing N5 million. “I was left in pain, begging for help, but they turned me away because I couldn’t pay,” Comfort recounted, with her voice heavy with frustration.The delay in treatment has left Comfort with severe complications, and she is now facing a race against time to raise funds for the procedure. Her family has appealed for public support, as the exorbitant cost is far beyond their means.
The heartbreaking case has ignited discussions on social media, with many condemning the hospital’s actions and calling for reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare system to prioritize patient care over profit.
This tragic story focus on the larger issue of healthcare accessibility in Nigeria, where financial constraints often determine who gets treated and who doesn’t. In the meantime as Comfort’s family scrambles to raise the funds, her plight serves as a reminder of the urgent need for systemic change to ensure no one is denied care due to inability to pay.
