₦airaland Forum

Please what can we do o.
A family of mine delivered of a baby some months ago in Lagos via surgery.
The medical fees is calculated to be 1.2 million naira, and the family of those guys are very poor.
In fact to eat in a day is a miracle for them.
Now, the hospital has hold her down going to 2 months now and the husband family is still looking for money to balance the fees.
Currently, they are still living in the hospital, which mean the bills might be increasing.
Please what do you suggest to do in this situation?
Those family that gave birth are semi literate.
We have contributed our own quota for them but it’s nothing compared to what is on ground.
Please what can we do?

Tohsynetita1:
➜Please what can we do o.
A family of mine delivered of a baby some months ago in Lagos via surgery. The medical fees is calculated to be 1.2 million naira, and the family of those guys are very poor. In fact to eat in a day is a miracle for them. Now, the hospital has hold her down going to 2 months now and the husband family is still looking for money to balance the fees. Currently, they are still living in the hospital, which mean the bills might be increasing. Please what do you suggest to do in this situation? Those family that gave birth are semi literate. We have contributed our own quota for them but it’s nothing compared to what is on ground. Please what can we do?

Advise other families to learn from this case not to get pregnant at all if they do not have the money to pay for the delivery and whatever emergency procedures may result. Also, have them see that making sure to choose hospitals they can afford for the delivery is in their best interest. Additionally, people should probably consider signing up early for available health insurance plans that can guarantee payment of health costs in this and other situations beforehand.

Kobojunkie:
Advise other families to learn from this case not to get pregnant at all if they do not have the money to pay for the delivery and whatever emergency procedures may result. Also, have them see that making sure to choose hospitals they can afford for the delivery is in their best interest. Additionally, people should probably consider signing up early for available health insurance plans that can guarantee payment of health costs in this and other situations beforehand.

Exactly, other people should learn, the hospital can employ them so they work for the money.

Tohsynetita1:
Please what can we do o.
A family of mine delivered of a baby some months ago in Lagos via surgery.
The medical fees is calculated to be 1.2 million naira, and the family of those guys are very poor.
In fact to eat in a day is a miracle for them.
Now, the hospital has hold her down going to 2 months now and the husband family is still looking for money to balance the fees.
Currently, they are still living in the hospital, which mean the bills might be increasing.
Please what do you suggest to do in this situation?
Those family that gave birth are semi literate.
We have contributed our own quota for them but it’s nothing compared to what is on ground.
Please what can we do?

.... Non payment of hospital bill is not a crime in Nigeria
Criminal offence is different from civil offence

This one is a civil offence, hence you can't arrest or detain anyone because they refuse to pay their hospital bills

Detaining a patient for non-payment of hospital bills is illegal in many countries, including Nigeria where it is considered a violation of human rights. Hospitals have a right to collect payment, but not through involuntary confinement.

Such a detention could render the hospital or medical personnel who is responsible liable in an action for trespass to the patient (and more particularly the tort of false imprisonment – IGBOERI (2010) LPELR-4712(CA)

this means that the patient can sue the Hospital and ask the Court for monetary compensation on the basis that he or she has been falsely imprisoned by the Hospital.

In 2018, the High Court of Anambra State held a hospital that detained an indebted patient liable for the tort of false imprisonment and awarded damages in the sum of N500,000 in damages against the hospital.

So if a patient refuses to pay in this kind of situation
The hospital should seek legal redress by filing a suit against the patient to recover outstanding bill

That's what you need to do

Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Copied from The People's Parliament on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/100070243033832/posts/pfbid02AEQ8GXWo3W7D4AjpnfxwRMncvcD3XfbzriMLxbVjHbEiwyqaFT3caPKBaXDfSnzWl/?app=fbl

Ok, no problem
They will try to balance up.

Did she not attend antenatal there.

Wasn't she aware of the price of delivery.

Foodqueen:
Did she not attend antenatal there.

Wasn't she aware of the price of delivery.

She attended it there.
She was aware of the price but the husband thought he will get the money easily.

Don't get pregnant if you got no means to cover the bills. The hospital is a profit entity. I wish this platform has a section that helps people financially

Vote wisely in next election so they can build/give free medical to everyone just like most part of the world

She will get help soon

Getting registered with NHIS before delivery would have solved this issue