Power Drains 40% of Healthcare Running Cost, Private Hospitals Lament

Private healthcare providers in Lagos have raised the alarm over the crippling impact of rising electricity and fuel prices, warning that energy expenses now swallow about 40 per cent of their operational costs.

The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Lagos Chapter, disclosed this in a statement on Monday ahead of its Annual General and Scientific Conference.

Chairman of the chapter, Dr. Jonathan Esegine, said hospitals were under intense financial strain as they struggle to balance patient care with escalating power bills.

“Our energy cost alone takes about 40 per cent of our health costs, not salaries, not taxes,” Esegine lamented.

According to him, many facilities now run on generators for hours daily due to unreliable electricity supply, with diesel and petrol costs soaring beyond sustainability.

He narrated how his hospital had to keep power running overnight to save a pregnant woman suffering from placenta complications.

Healthcare operators warn that if the trend continues, patient care may be severely compromised as hospitals either raise fees beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians or shut down critical services.

The association urged government at all levels to intervene by providing stable electricity, subsidised energy tariffs for health institutions, and incentives for alternative energy sources such as solar.

“Healthcare should not be treated like every other business. We are dealing with lives. When light goes off in a hospital, it is not just inconvenience it could mean death,” Esegine stressed.

The AGPMPN said the conference would also deliberate on strategies for sustainable healthcare delivery amid Nigeria’s economic challenges.