More than 90% of Private Hospitals in Yola Are Owned, Managed By MAUTH Doctors – Survey

More Than 90% of Private Hospitals In Yola Are Owned, Managed By MAUTH Doctors – Survey

…Without MAUTH Yola, Most Private Hospitals Wouldn’t Exist

By Hauwa Umar Bahago

A recent survey has revealed that over 90% of private hospitals in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, are either owned, managed or jointly run by doctors working at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola.

The finding underscores a reality many already know but rarely discuss: without MAUTH, Yola’s private hospital sector would barely exist. The reason is simple, without the federal salary structure that MAUTH offers, many skilled doctors, nurses and other health professionals would likely have relocated to other federal tertiary hospitals outside the state. State government pay scales cannot match federal ones and most patients in Yola would be unable to afford the high bills charged by fully private facilities. In such a scenario, many would either travel out of state for treatment or resort to alternative medicine, often with risky outcomes and prayers as the only hope for recovery.

In practice, when patients visit a private clinic in Yola, they are frequently attended to by doctors who are also MAUTH staff. The advantage is clear: patients get prompt attention, often with courteous and professional service to match the fees. However, when a patient’s condition becomes critical, the ultimate referral point is still MAUTH Yola.

The irony is that when such referred cases, often already complicated, end in tragedy, the public backlash tends to fall squarely on MAUTH. Accusations of negligence or inefficiency are hurled, even though the hospital’s role was often to attempt a last-minute rescue in situations where outcomes were already grim. This has even raised allegations, in some quarters, of deliberate or unintentional diversion of patients from public to private facilities.

But here’s the other side of the story: Without the private hospitals, many run by MAUTH doctors, the healthcare burden in Yola would be overwhelming. MAUTH is already overstretched, with its facilities and staff working at maximum capacity. The truth is, private hospitals, despite their limitations, help absorb part of the patient load, preventing what could be a catastrophic healthcare crisis in the state capital.

Yet, it must be said: when it comes to critical, complex and high-risk cases, MAUTH Yola remains in a class of its own. The hospital’s state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities, modern theatres and fully equipped Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are beyond the reach of any private hospital in the state. This makes MAUTH the ultimate lifeline for cases that demand advanced expertise and sophisticated equipment.

If primary healthcare centres and state public hospitals were strengthened through political will and consistent investment, they could complement both MAUTH and the private sector far more effectively. Until then, MAUTH Yola remains the backbone of Adamawa’s healthcare system, not just as a referral hub but as the standard-setter for medical excellence in the region.

Hauwa Umar Bahago is a product of The Periscope Global’s Language and Communication Skills Training